I own nothing but Nicki.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Have more than you show. Speak less than you know."

Oswald soon discovered that the "home videos" were security tapes. Butch had fetched them from Fish's office and was now setting them up on a TV in the backroom. It wasn't a small room, but it wasn't quite big enough to house the number of people it was currently containing. Fish had insisted that everyone gather around for the precious family memories and Oswald couldn't help but wonder if forcing them all into such close confinement was a form of punishment she was dealing them in itself. Thankfully, he was against the back wall with Fish, poised with a bottle of wine with which he was to keep her drink full. He was sure that the evening had influenced her decision on drinking as much as she currently was and normally he loved her when she was upset in this manner. Angry Fish was dangerous, but stressed Fish was a gift if you played your cards right, and Oswald with his talented foot massages and eagerness to please was usually at the forefront of gaining her approval and gratitude when she was in a mood like this, allowing him the pleasure of praise, small privileges, and a little physical affection that he admittedly loved receiving. But even the thought of her sensual lips on his cheek or soft hands pressed gratefully against his arms or chest were enough to keep his focus as he mulled over her comment from earlier. Mouse infestation…What could she mean…and what did that have to do with Nicholetta?

"And…we…are…." Butch drew out as he set up the old VCR. "Rolling." He hit the play button with a flourish and moved to wedge himself back into the back corner near Fish so that everyone had a clear view of the television. The black and white security footage opened on large and open room, occupied by two groups of men, both poised as if ready to crash together any minute. Leading both of these sides were a viciously angry Fish and an equally furious man that Oswald did not recognize.

He was very tall and, in spite of his put together suit, had a scruffy look about him. He was standing with his arms crossed across his chest, glaring down at Fish who was inches from his face, albeit a good foot below him. "Look doll, it ain't my fault your bunch of mooks lost the supplies," he sneered down at her, very condescending and very Italian. "But that DON'T MEAN you get to skimp on giving us the money."

"Call me Doll again and see what happens," she hissed up at him, jabbing a manicured finger in his face. "And I'll be damned if I'm paying for booze that YOU'RE sad excuses for men lost."

Even on this grainy security footage, Oswald could tell that Fish was a force to be reckoned with. Her posture was a rattlesnake ready to strike. The other man, however, was less than impressed. Letting his head loll back slightly so that he was looking down his nose at the woman in front of him, he heaved a heavy sigh and clicked his tongue. "You see that's the thing," he drawled at her. "My guys got your stuff right here to this warehouse, just like they were supposed to. Whether or not your guys kept ahold of it when it got here ain't my problem. Got it…" he leaned down so that their noses were almost touching, "Doll?"

Fish's hand flashed across his face before anyone could process what had happened. The tall man immediately hissed in pain, clutching a hand to his face. Both mobs of men took a step forward but Fish held her hand to stop her side of the potential fight, while the other man gave a lazy wave at his, letting out a chuckle as he looked at his hand, checking for blood. Small dark scratches had appeared on his face, just visible in the footage. "Ok you know what," he said, taking a step back and wagging a finger at her. "I'll cut you a deal. Half the money. As a courtesy." He gave her a smug smirk which she returned, advancing forward a step.

"I'm. Not. Paying." She replied with a sweet smile.

His smile dropped and his demeanor got harder. He didn't look angry though, Oswald mused, more annoyed than anything. "Look you gettin' robbed-"

"YOU got robbed," Fish cut him off. "The supplies never made it inside the building."

"Because your guys-"

"My boys don't lose supplies!"

"Oh but mine do huh?"

"Clearly."

"Fish!" A new voice cut in. There was the sound of a heavy door slamming shut and a new person ran in between Fish and the other man. Oswald couldn't help but notice that he looked like one of Fish's boys, Raoul. Only with shaggier hair and a less worn face.

"Yes Raoul?" Fish answered him with a forced pleasantness. So it was Raoul. How long ago was this? As Oswald squinted at the television, he noticed that Fish too seemed a little different as well. There was something a little more wild about her than the refined and calculating Fish he had come to know.

"The money is gone t-too," he said, barely able to meet her eyes. Her expression turned cold and snatched ahold of his lapels pulling him down to her eyelevel. The already frightened man was now cowering in fear. "I'm s-sorry, he stuttered, holding up his hands. "I don't know how they got into the truck but it's all gone."

The tall man gave a sharp laugh. "Yeah, you're boys don't lose nothin' huh?"

Fish shot him a murderous look, but before she could react Raoul interjected more information. "Butch and some of Maroni's guys are trying to catch the thief now. And Maroni and Falcone are both here." Fish and the taller man both suddenly looked a little uneasy at the new intervention and Raoul, still bent over at an uncomfortable angle, looked as if he might be shaking. Even the surrounding men became shifty.

"Well,"Fish snapped, shoving Raoul back up to a standing position and turning her attention back to the taller man. "I'd love to hear how you plan on telling your Don that you-"

The man let out an exasperated grunt, clearly at the end of his patience. In one long stride he was inches from Fish, towering over her and pointing a finger into face much as she had done to her. "Now look here you stupid broad-"

"Frankie!" Frankie's head snapped to somewhere off screen, and for a moment had the look of a cat that had just gotten caught eating a canary. That quickly slid off, however, replaced by irritated but more indifferent look as he held up his hands and backed away from the woman, who had remained unimpressed by his display anyways.

"Sorry boss," he muttered, quite unapologetically. His eyes and Fish's were still locked as if they could rush each other at any minute and the tension was palpable, even on the screen. The arrival of two more men caught Oswald's attention however. The first one, the one who had spoken, Oswald assumed, was a large man in a very nice suit who was regarding Fish and the tall man with a surprising look of amusement. The other was someone who Oswald immediately recognized. Although he looked less worn from age, and had slightly more hair than when Oswald had last seen him a few hours ago, it was unmistakably Don Falcone.

"Now Frankie, is that any way to treat a lady?" the larger man scolded, as if talking to a child. He turned his attention to Fish, all openness and warmth. "My apologies if my men have been disrespectful towards you, tootse." The irony of his statement made Oswald wince. He almost wondered if the man were purposefully mocking her, but there was a certain pleasantness and warmth in his statement that showed that he was simply oblivious to the fact that he had just insulted her. Nevertheless, Oswald stole an uneasy glance at Ms. Mooney beside of him, who was watching the whole thing with a bored regalness. A queen watching an unamusing play. The younger Fish on the screen was not handling it quite so well.

"MS. MOONEY." The film Fish corrected. Spitting the words at him. It was almost a laughable sight. A kitten baring her teeth at this goliath of a gorilla. The man's eyebrows raised but he only gave her a good natured chuckle before holding out a hand to her. "Salvadore Maroni," he returned in introduction. As in Don Maroni? Oswald mused. Fish turned glanced back at Don Falcone, who had been watching the whole exchange in silence, and gave her a subtle nod. Exhaling heavily through her nose, she reached up to shake his hand. Maroni snatched her hand and quickly planted a sloppy kiss on it before dropping it. He either missed her alarmed look of disgust or didn't care to acknowledge it as he clapped his hands and rubbed them together.

"So Carmine," he turned his attention to Falcone, "it appears we have a little bit of an issue on our hands."

"So it does, Sal, so it does," Falcone agreed, all business.

Fish, who had been wiping her hand off on her dress, now tried for a cool, poised look, crossing her arms across her chest. "They're chasing after the thief now," she said in an icy tone. "Maybe we can flip a coin to see who gets to throw the son of a bitch in the river?"

"I just wanna know who it was," Maroni addressed the group. "I mean, who rips off both our families? Am I right?"

"Yes," Falcone agreed slowly and thoughtfully. Oswald felt himself wondering the same thing as well. Not only because the idea of someone against the two biggest mob families was attention-grabbing, but because there was surely a reason they were watching this tape.

He didn't have to wonder long. Suddenly, a young Butch came tripping on camera, panting like a dog. "We got 'em!" he yelled triumphantly.

"Who is it?" Carmine Falcone asked over the buzz of the surrounding people. Young butch let out a low chuckle.

"You ain't gonna believe this."

From off screen two small children made their appearance, both with their hands tied and two hulking men holding each of their shoulders. Oswald couldn't help but gasp as he immediately recognized them. The boy was bald and raggedy looking, a cut above his cheek and a limp in his walk which he tried desperately to hide as he bit back a wince with every step he took as he was marched in. Next to him, walking in perfect tandem was a girl. She had long, wet hair that hung in clumps around her face and dripped on the concrete. Her whole person appeared to be wet actually, Oswald noticed, and she walked with her head held high like a queen, her small face simply exuding defiance. Oswald had a sneaking suspicion that he knew who these two children were.

Everyone on screen was staring at the two, speechless, as they made their way to the center of the room where the two Dons stood. The silence was broken my Don Maroni who broke out into loud bouts of laughter, doubling over and slapping his knee. "You gotta be kiddin' me!" he shouted through guffaws. "These two? These are the criminal masterminds? What are they, like, 8?"

"Ten." A voice answered, high and cold, and the room returned to silence as everyone eyed the small girl who had spoken with wariness. Her expression was much stonier than any child should be capable of and her eyes were alight with challenge towards the large man who had been laughing at them. Even Maroni seemed to get a little unsettled.

"And just who are you two?" Don Falcone questioned, gently but firmly. The two remained silent. "What are your names?" The children exchanged glances, but then turned back to Falcone, still silent.

"This is ridiculous! What are we babysitters now?" the tall man, Frankie, protested in an exasperated tone. He turned his attention to Fish. "Help us out here. Where's your maternal side?"

Fish shot him a dangerous look before turning to reason with Falcone. "I don't think we're asking the right question here," she said logically. "Who cares who the munchkins are. What we should be concerned with is who they are covering for. Do you really expect me to believe that these two children just stole two trucks of booze and ten suitcases full of money?"

A sharp laugh caught everyone by surprise. The small bald boy had lost his cool look and was now laughing like a madman at them. The little girl shot him a sharp look that cut him off, but he still retained a lazy smirk. Fish and Falcone exchanged a look.

"Ok my boy," Don Falcone said sternly to him. "I need for you to understand what kind of a situation you're in right now. What you have done has caused problems with some very important and very dangerous people. If you don't cooperate and tell us who you're causing this little distraction for, I can't make any promises about your safety.

Maroni looked incredulous. "Wait, what? They're just kids."

"Who said we're a distraction for anyone?" the little boy replied, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"You expect me to believe that you two caused all of this trouble? Duped all of my men, and pulled a heist of this scale? You can see how I would be insulted by this, yes?"

The boys face took on an innocent façade, the twinkle still there. "I can't imagine why," he said slyly," they've managed to do what all of the GCPD haven't been able to do. Catch the mouse thief."

Everyone in the room was taken aback. The little girl began hissing at him under her breath, her words coming fast as flying daggers. Don Falcone, however, was not convinced. "You expect me to believe that-"

The little boy cut him off. "Why not? Who else could have snuck in through the vents of Wayne Enterprise? A grown up would be a little tall don't you think?"

"This is absurd!" Fish exclaimed.

"Actually," Butch cut in meekly, "they did give us quite a bit of issue trying to catch them." He motioned to men who had helped him capture to two. They were definitely worse for wear, one even nursing a bullet hole in his foot.

"Well," Don Falcone said, cocking an eyebrow. "How about that."

"What are we gonna do with 'em boss?" one of Falcone's goons asked. "If what they say is true, they cost all of us quite a bit today."

"You don't believe all of this do you?" Fish asked skeptically.

"Actually I do," Falcone replied, sizing the children up. "These two are quite a threat. They'll need to be dealt with-"

"What are you gonna dump their little bodies in the river?" Maroni cut it in, working himself into a fit. "Not on my watch. Kids are kids, period. " He turned his attention to the two who were now eyeing him with calculated looks. As Oswald could only assume was usual, he was oblivious to this and advanced upon them. "Look this one has got a limp like he broke his leg or something. Someone get the boy a damn chair. And this little dollbaby is shaking so hard it's a wonder she doesn't knock herself over." His men, hesitated but then went to fulfill their bosses request. Maroni slipped off his own jacket and, much to the little girls shock, slung it around her shoulders. Unable to move her hands to defend herself, she stood stock still at his quick action and looked comical with her dripping hair, wide eyes, and this enormous white suit jacket draped around her, pooling at her feet.

"That isn't what I was going to suggest," Falcone said, watching the whole scene with amusement. "I think we should go and talk in another room friend." He started to walk off, but stopped. Turning back, he gave the two a quizzical look. "Why on earth do two kids your age need that much money anyways?"

The girl remained a dripping statue. The boy hesitated as well, but then broke. "We take care of street kids."

"Vic," the little girl squeaked in alarm, immediately also taking on a guilty look as she realized she had just revealed his name. Oswald gave a small nod to himself. He had been right. It was a young Victor Zsaz, not much less scarier than his adult counterpart. So the other one must be...

"There's a bunch of us, some our age, mostly younger. We, me and Nick here, try to keep the fed and all but you can't live day to day stealing wallets. We thought this could be a chance to get ahead of the hunger, you know."

Oswald felt a surge go through him. So this was Nicki as well. He knew it. He could see realization dawning on the others in the room as well.

"And where are the others," Falcone asked from the TV.

"It doesn't matter," Little Nicki snapped her face alight with defiance. "You caught us, ok? Why bring anyone else to this?"

"Now little miss-" Falcone started but she would not be calmed.

"You caught the two of us fair and square. But leave everyone else out of it." Falcone pursed his lip to keep from smiling at the tiny little girl's protests. Maroni wasn't so subtle and let out a loud chuckle, not noticing her deathly glare at him.

"What a little firecracker!" Maroni shouted, ruffling the girl's hair with his giant hand and causing her to retreat back from him. "I like this girl! She's got a lot of moxy in her."

"Indeed,"Falcone said, thoughtfully. Then motioning for Maroni to follow him, he added, "A word?"

Maroni nodded, still laughing slightly. There was a click and the screen went blank. Oswald, who had been so caught up in the footage, looked to see Fish pointing her remote at the television.

Hey guys! I just updated this chapter! SO SORRY about that weird coding thing...I'm not sure how that even happened haha. Thank you CollegeGirl2018 so much for bringing it to my attention and than you all so much for reading! I'm thinking about maybe adding a chapter about Victor and Nicki's side of this, especially their little ten year old selves pulling of the heist...I should be getting my updates in more frequently now that my unit plan has ended! Love you all!