Breaking Wonderland: The Mad Tea Party
BTAS (Batman Animated Series)
(Sequel to Breaking Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass) Arkham is a mess and missing some of it's worst inmates. Will Arkham's escaped inmates have a smooth transition like the rest of Gotham City?
Chapter 10: Cheshire Cat
Alice awoke next to Jervis who still snoring in a low hum. She wanted to cuddle into him but thought better of it. She laid motionless thinking to herself. Jervis wasn't his usual self he demonstrated clearly how much control he had over the others and her. Alice sat up he may be Jervis at the moment but the moment he wakes the Mad Hatter would be the one stirring. Alice got up and got dressed she needed to feed the others as she was sure they would be hungry soon. She walked carefully across the building making sure not to stir anyone. Even though they were under mind control, she didn't know how it worked while they were sleeping or how it works while Jervis was sleeping. Alice started cooking up some breakfast as she took count on how many they were. Harley, Ivy, Catwoman, Riddler, Scarecrow, Hatter, and herself. There was also some fellow lackeys that would be showing up soon. She decided to make enough for ten people. A took almost and hour to cook up the eggs and sausage alone. Toast didn't take too long but hash-browns was another story altogether.
"Alice?" someone called from behind. It was the Mad Hatter entering the kitchen. "Did you do all this by yourself?" he asked in shock. Alice smiled and nodded.
"Of course no one else is here," she said preparing the plates.
"Why- I- I feel so ashamed you should of awaken me," he said looking a bit embarrassed. Alice narrowed her eyes at him for a moment. He was acting more like Jervis than Mad Hatter. She pursed her lips as she laid out the plates. "Do you want me to help you my dear," he offered. Alice shook her head.
"No,"she said simply.
"But there are so many to serve," he responded in surprised.
"Yes but you need to keep your concentration up," she said stiffly. His eyes widen in shock as he stiffened up as well.
"Uh-I-I well-" he elongated looking toward the floor. Alice felt bad on how he responded and ran toward him she placed her hands on his cheeks and looked into his eyes.
"Oh Jervis," she started lovingly. "I know it's sweet of you to offer but I need you to be on guard. I need you to be strong. Remember who we have here. We can't afford to show any weakness or who knows what might happen," Alice finished looking worried. Jervis blinked a few times and nodded. He turned away breaking from her grasp.
"You're right," he said meekly to himself as he hunched for a moment.
"AHHHH!" a female screamed. Both Jervis and Alice ran out to see the commotion.
"You foul smirking bastard! You did it on purpose!" Ivy said as she held onto her towel pushing Edward away.
"How was I suppose to know you were in there... doing whatever you were doing!" Edward yelled in shock he was too wrapped in a towel. I thought it was Jonathan," Edward yelled. A door opened not too far and Jonathan stuck out his head to also see the commotion. Harley and Selina soon ran out making their way toward Ivy. Alice turned to giggle as everyone still had their mask or hair microchips on. Both Harley and Selina began to giggle as well.
SLAP!
"Hey!" Edward yelled as he grabbed his cheek. Mad Hatter rolled his eyes with a sigh.
"Enough both of you. You're acting like you're in Arkham! Now hurry about and get dressed," Mad Hatter demanded. The others glared at him bitterly as they went back toward their rooms. "Alice has made breakfast," he added.
"Good cause I'm starvin!" Harley yelled as she went into a room followed by Ivy. Edward turned angrily.
"Why did you let her slap me?" he questioned as he turned to face the Mad Hatter. Mad Hater crossed his arms.
"It was obviously well deserved," he said strongly raising a brow. Edward grimaced as he returned to his room slamming the door behind him. Alice rolled out the food on a small cart. Soon everyone was dressed eating as if they haven't eaten in days. As everyone ate Mad Hatter sat down calmly as he began to talk.
"Now Catwoman you shall be the first to pay off your debt. I'm having you steal a few things of value that will fund my project. If you succeed you're debt is cleared and you're free to do whatever well...you do," he said happily. "As long as you do not mention our operation nor try to help the others escape," he added seriously. Catwoman perked a brow.
"Now why would I wanna do that?" Catwoman said slyly. The others glared at her angrily. "I don't owe them they don't owe me. I just want to get this over with and leave," Catwoman said.
"What about me?" Riddler asked confused. "I have nothing to contributor to your little project. I'm not a thief, a chemist, a killer? Why am I here?!" he said growing angrily.
"You're here because I need your knowledge," he said simply. Riddler perked a brow and grinned.
"I'm listening," he replied interested. Ivy rolled her eyes.
"Anything to stroke his ego," she whispered to Harley who grinned. Edward glared at her for moment then stared back at the Mad Hatter.
"You always seem to know who's doing what and when. That's very knowledgeable when I plan on using Harley's abilities," he said happily. "I need you to plant false information to Batman and the Arkham PD," he replied.
"I don't do false info," Riddler said shaking his head. Mad Hatter sighed irately.
"Fine then use factual info just make sure that Batman and the police are distracted at the right moments. Make sure they do not find out what's going on," Mad Hatter bossed irritated.
"Seems like I'm going to be here for a while then," Riddler said stuffing scramble eggs in his mouth slightly depressed.
"Fantastic," Scarecrow let out sarcastically, "what about Ivy and I? What roles do we play in this?" he asked angrily.
"You will know soon enough. I will talk to Ivy and you privately. For now we must eat," Mad Hatter announced as they all continued to silently eat their breakfast.
After breakfast everyone wandered about the building minding their own business settling in. Alice nosily and silently wandered about. She didn't mind Harley and Ivy but she didn't know how would they would react knowing they were under the Mad Hatter's control. She didn't know Scarecrow and Riddler too well and was honestly frightened to be anywhere near Scarecrow. He had done so much damage in her life even though she forgave him, she still feared him.
"I know you're just itching to go out and get this done. However I don't think it's wise for you to go out just yet," Mad Hatter advised as Catwoman laced up her boots.
"Why not? I got a pretty good idea on where I want to hit," Catwoman said as she took her foot of the chair.
"Yes but what if Batman shows up, I would rather wait till we can arrange a distraction or-"
"Wait until Riddler says it's okay?" Catwoman finished, she shook her head. "No... I don't think so, help from him?" Catwoman said proudly. "Look I'm a thief and most heists go my way, it seems you just need a few thousands to get you started," Catwoman said simply. "I can get you plenty but the sooner I start the better it'll be before Batman catches on, unless you do-"
"Fine! So Cheshire Cat what's your plan?" Mad Hatter asked as he crosses his arms. Catwoman smirked as she took out her whip.
"Multiple heists across town probably hire some wannabe's to cause a distraction for the big hit," Catwoman said smiling.
"You're absolutely sure Batman won't catch you?" Mad Hatter asked. Catwoman rolled her eyes.
"Nothing is a hundred percent, but I have a fortune already and so does Penguin and Riddler for that matter if you want I can-"
"No don't bother go with your original I need as much allies I can get," Mad Hatter said looking sour.
"Good when the sun sets I'll be gone be back sometime after midnight," Catwoman said.
"Good, I shall be expecting you, for now dinner or tea perhaps?" he offered. Catwoman smiled.
"No I don't want to be weighed down by food," she said and with that Mad Hatter tipped his hat and walked away. Catwoman cracked her whip then turned and smiled. "You can come out from behind the tree now Alice," Catwoman said with a smile. Alice gasped as she peeked nervously from behind the tree. Catwoman rolled up her whip and nodded.
"How did you know?" Alice asked as she stepped out from behind the tree. Catwoman placed her whip on her belt and placed her arms on hips.
"You squeaked when I cracked my whip. How long have you been hiding there?" Catwoman asked. Alice walked up to her looking around nervously.
"A few minutes," Alice said hugging herself as she walked toward Catwoman.
"So I guess you know what I'm doing tonight?" Catwoman said as she leaned against a hard plastic mushroom. Alice nodded before looking down. "Why the long face? You're not happy?" Catwoman asked as she looked around suspiciously as well. Alice sat on the floor next to the mushroom and sighed.
"I don't know what to think right now," Alice said honestly.
"He doesn't have you under, you know?" Catwoman asked seriously. Alice shook her head but then thought about it.
"I don't think so... I mean maybe but no well I don't know," Alice titled her head confused. Catwoman shook her head.
"So what are you guys planning anyways?" Catwoman asked interested. Alice shrugged.
"I'm not sure what Jervis has in mind," Alice said. "He told me only bits and parts of his plan but he hasn't revealed it's purpose," Alice said confused. Catwoman giggled.
"Jervis, huh?" she said covering her mouth with the back of her hand. Alice looked up and smiled perplexedly.
"Well it is his name," Alice said simply.
"No I think it's kind of cute that you're close enough to call each other by you're birth given name," Catwoman said. Alice looked even more confused. "It's hard you know to reveal what's under the mask," Catwoman said looking at a distance. "Our personas, our egos, our true thoughts and feelings hidden within," she continued solemnly. "Too bad he doesn't trust you enough to reveal his purpose," Catwoman said as she stopped leaning against the mushroom.
"I trust him, I'm sure he has some sort of a reason," Alice said pushing herself off the floor. Catwoman turned to face her seriously.
"Alice he's from Arkham... I wouldn't give your hopes up," Catwoman said seriously. Alice bit her lower lip thinking about Catwoman's words. What if they had some truth in them? What if she was completely right? "It's almost time to go, see you around Alice take care," Catwoman said as she began to walk away.
"Wait!" Alice shouted. Catwoman stopped and turned. "Thanks for saving my life back then and be careful," Alice said sincerely. Catwoman frowned for a moment then smiled.
"Hmph, I can see why Hatter fell for you, you're a sweet girl Alice be careful," she said as she turned she started walking then stopped once more. "By the way take care of Jervis he needs you more than he knows," Catwoman said and with that she started walking away once more.