WARNING: This is where the T-rated violence comes in.
Theme songs for this chapter: "Mistreated" from Strange Magic and "Fight For Me" from Heathers.
The next morning, in the gymnasium, Lita grunted as she slowly made her way up the manila rope. Dementia watched, clinging to the wall in a reptilian pose.
"Come on, slow-poke!" she shouted. "Pick up the pace!"
"You've…" Lita said between pants, "had me…do this…ten times…already!"
"Practice makes perfect!" Dementia said, showing her fangs as she scaled up the wall. "Ya wouldn't be sweating so much if ya didn't have on that turtleneck!"
It was true. The turtleneck was extremely hot. Lita knew she shouldn't have chosen black, as that was going to leave quite a mess in her armpits. At least the black leggings made it easier for her to move…though still sweaty.
"Why not take it off?" Dementia said in a sultry tone. "Go au naturel?"
Lita was too busy wincing at the pain in her arms to roll her eyes. "Don't…know you…well enough!"
"Faster, will ya?! Act like the rope is on fire!" There was an impish glint in her eyes. "Then again…why act?"
Dementia scurried down the wall. Ceasing her climbing, Lita searched around frantically for her.
"Dementia?" she called in worry. "Where did…? What did you…?"
There was a sudden whizzing sound from below. Glancing down, Lita gasped in terror. Dementia stood beside the hanging end of the rope, holding out a flaming blowtorch. Cackling mischievously, she inched the torch towards the rope.
"Are you insane?!" Lita shouted, swinging her legs around the rope in panic.
"Nope!" Dementia yelled, her eyes rolling in different directions. "I'm Dementia!"
Lita looked around for an escape. She was too high up to jump off, and not high enough to reach the rafters! And even if she did outclimb the flame, she'd have no way of getting down with the rope gone!
Then she found her salvation.
"Boss, help!" she screamed.
Dementia huffed. "No way am I falling for that again!"
"What is going on here?"
Squeaking, Dementia whirled around to see Black Hat standing right behind her, frowning down at her with his arms crossed. She took her finger off the blowtorch trigger, extinguishing the flame.
"J-Just, um…" Hiding the blowtorch behind her back, Dementia grinned innocently. "Giving the trainee some extra motivation, darling!"
Black Hat glanced up at Lita as she made a hasty climb back down.
"I ordered you to train her," Black Hat said, using a tentacle to snatch the blowtorch away. "Not fry her!"
Dementia's lip quivered. "B-B-But she was moving too slow, sweetie! I just thought—"
"IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO THINK!"
His voice was so loud it blew the rope backward. Lita clung tightly so she wouldn't fall off.
"Next time you attempt to cook one of your colleagues," Black Hat said, placing the blowtorch in his hand, "it will be on my orders!" For but one second, his eye was completely white and his gums were crawling with foam. "UNDERSTAND?!"
"Y-Yes, sir," Dementia squeaked, her fearful expression turning into one of admiration a second later.
"Good," Black Hat said, relaxing as he tucked the blowtorch into his jacket. "And what are you doing, Miss Gris?"
By this time, Lita had reached the floor. "Well, Dementia told me to climb this rope and then—"
"Let me rephrase that," he said, pushing the lizard-girl aside. "What are you doing here, when you should be in the kitchen preparing lunch?"
"Oh," Lita said, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was thirty minutes to noon. "Sorry, I, uh…lost track of time. What with almost getting burnt to a crisp and all."
"That's no excuse for tardiness!"
"But—"
"Kitchen." He growled, pointing to the door. "Now."
"Alright, already! Sheesh!" Crossing her arms, Lita walked past him. "But if it ends up tasting like crap, don't say I didn't warn you!"
"Nonsense!"
Black Hat's demeanor suddenly became civil as he threw his arm around her. Lita winced, not because he was squeezing too hard, but because her shoulders were still tender from the bruising.
"If you can hold your own against a super strong—yet super annoying—mutant lizard-woman," he said with a toothless grin, "you can handle preparing a simple meal."
"Annoying?" Dementia said, springing up into a cross-legged position.
Lita glanced nervously at Black Hat's hand on her shoulder and then back at Dementia. Her mismatched eyes were narrowing at Lita, holding a mixture of hurt and fury.
Córcholis, why does he have to keep touching me? Doesn't he realize I already have enough of Dementia to put up with as it is?
"While I, um," Lita said, clearing her throat, "appreciate your confidence in me, sir," gently prying his fingers off her shoulder, she ducked back under his arm, "you overestimate my abilities."
"Be that as it may," he said, his one eye moving in her direction, "you forget the number one rule of being an evil henchman."
"'Never defy your boss,'" she muttered, rolling her eyes. "I know, I know. I watched the dumb tapes."
Dementia pushed herself between them, batting her eyes at Black Hat. "I don't think they're dumb, sugar plum!"
Ignoring her, Black Hat moved his arm in front of her, snatching Lita by the waist and pulling her close. Steam puffed out of Dementia's nostrils.
"Exactly. So, I suggest you stop whining," he said, pushing Lita into the hall, "AND GET TO THE KITCHEN!"
With a huff, Lita marched down the hall. "No need to shout."
Black Hat watched her go in confusion. She hadn't even flinched at his outburst!
"What's wrong with that woman?" he said with a growl.
"Aw, who needs her? Now that we're alone, honeybun," Dementia whispered seductively, snaking her arms around his waist, "what say we have our own little sparring session?" She fingered the buttons of his shirt. "Au naturel?"
Without even looking at her, Black Hat used his tentacles to pry her off and toss her back down the hall.
When Lita arrived in the kitchen, 5.0.5. and Flug were waiting for her, the former holding out a frilly pink apron matching the one he was wearing.
"Ready for your first cooking lesson?" Flug asked.
Taking the apron, Lita replied flatly, "I'm gonna burn the place down."
"Don't be silly!" he said with a nervous chuckle. "The only way you could do that is if you baked cookies with dynamite! And only Dementia's ever done that!"
Had this place really desensitized her so much that such a statement didn't shock her?
"Anyway," Flug said, clearing his throat. "That's what the fire extinguisher is for."
He pointed to the wall.
"That's reassuring," Lita grumbled.
"Just make something simple. Like spaghetti."
"Does the boss even like spaghetti?"
"Oh, he'll eat anything." He leaned forward to whisper. "And I mean anything."
She blinked. "So…does it really matter if it tastes awful?"
Flug's eyelids drooped beneath his goggles. "Remember, we're eating this too."
"Right."
"But don't worry," he said chipperly. "I've left the recipe by the stove and 5.0.5. will be here to help you."
That didn't encourage her. "Why can't you stay and help?"
"I would, but the boss has me on a deadline with the newly modified anti-gravity ray." He held up a finger. "Specifically a ray this time, I swear!" He glanced at the clock on the wall. "Speaking of which, gotta run!"
"But—"
"Any questions," Flug called as he ran out, "just ask 5.0.5.!"
"But he doesn't even talk!" Lita hollered.
But the scientist had already left. She turned to the bear, who was pouting.
"No offense, chico. I just…" She sighed. "Well, guess we have no choice but to make this work."
5.0.5. smiled brightly, making a noise as if to say, "We can do it, if we just believe in ourselves!"
Lita couldn't help but smile back as she slipped on the apron and went over to the stove.
Who knew the thing she'd be most nervous about working for a criminal organization was making lunch? She considered just throwing a bunch of ingredients into a bowl like Dementia had done, but she didn't want to accidentally poison Flug. Even Black Hat's cooking had turned out to be surprisingly delicious.
This morning, Lita had come down to find a huge platter of baked Alaska in the middle of the table. While its appearance had been tempting, she'd been hesitant to eat anything made by Black Hat. Then Flug had assured her he'd already tested it for poison, using a mechanical taste tester.
The very idea that a despicable being like Black Hat could cook something so fancy just put extra pressure on her.
Seeing her distress, 5.0.5. gently patted Lita on the back and pointed to the paper next to the stove.
"Let's see," Lita said, picking up the recipe to read it. "Cook spaghetti in boiling water for seven to eight minutes." She glanced around. "Boiling water, boiling water…"
5.0.5. opened a cupboard below and pulled out a large black cooking pot.
"Right, water!" Grabbing the pot, she went over to the sink. "This part, I can do."
After filling the pot up with water, she placed it on the stove. 5.0.5. moved it to a different spot.
"What?"
He pointed to the circular burner she'd placed the pot over and then at the bigger one he'd moved it to.
"Ah, I see. Bigger circle, more heat?"
The bear nodded gleefully.
"And then," she said, turning one of the knobs, "turn it on?"
Flames erupted on the stove. But not under the pot, but from the burner diagonal from it. Lita shrieked in panic.
"I told you! I told you I was gonna—"
5.0.5. switched the fire off and turned the correct knob. Lita sighed in relief as the fire warmed the pot.
"Thanks."
She spied a box of uncooked spaghetti next to the fridge. Flug must've brought that out for her. Picking it up, she ripped the top open and was about to pour it into the pot when 5.0.5. stopped her with his paw, shaking his head insistently.
"What now?" she asked with a moan.
Picking up the recipe, 5.0.5. pointed to the word 'boiling' and then at the still water in the pot.
"Oh," she said, her shoulders slumping. "Not boiling. Right." She set down the box. "How long do we have to wait?"
5.0.5. held up his paws, supposedly to show a number.
"At least you're cute." She stared at the pot. "So, what do we do in the meantime?"
The bear pointed to the next bullet point on the paper. Simmer tomato sauce in saucepan until it bubbles.
"What the hell is a saucepan?" Lita asked in frustration.
5.0.5. reopened the cupboard and took out a tiny round pan with a handle. He then pointed to a jar of tomato sauce also sitting by the fridge.
"You know what?" she said, grabbing the jar. "How about you just handle the sauce?"
Once the water had boiled, Lita set the egg timer for eight minutes and poured the spaghetti in. 5.0.5. showed her how to stir it.
"So now we just wait?"
The bear pointed to a spice rack and then back to the recipe. Spices can be added while cooking pasta.
"I can add anything I want?"
Her answer was a happy nod. Lita went over to the rack to read the labels on the shakers.
Neither her nor 5.0.5. noticed Dementia slithering on the floor. While she enjoyed being loud, she could be silent and slick when she wanted to. She'd been watching Lita and the bear for a good ten minutes.
What does my honey bunny see in that flat-chested little skank?! Dementia had been thinking. Sure, she can fight, but can she blow an entire hospital to the moon? Can she rip a racoon apart with nothing but her teeth? Can she crush a human skull with her bare thighs? Can she sing a rock opera dedicated to the most handsomest demon in the universe?!
And yet her beloved had had his hands all over that tramp! And had completely ignored Dementia!
Well, let's see what he thinks of you after you destroy his lunch!
When she was certain the others weren't looking, Dementia peered over the stove and took out a vial she'd stolen from Flug's lab. The label read DANGER: NITROGLYCERIN.
Dementia chuckled to herself as she dunked the colorless liquid into the boiling pot. Hearing a noise, 5.0.5. turned around, but Dementia had slithered away before he could catch her.
Meanwhile, Lita had been perusing the spices. The only one she recognized was paprika. She remembered her father using that on chicken, and that it had tasted good. Grabbing the shaker, she returned to the pot. 5.0.5. moaned curiously at her choice.
"What?" she said, shaking the paprika in. "You said I could choose whatever spice I wanted."
5.0.5. opened his mouth but then paused. Lita watched as he sniffed the air. Curious, she also took a whiff.
"Wow, I didn't know spaghetti could smell so…sugary?"
The bear's eyes widened in alarm. Suddenly, he leaped at Lita, tackling her to the ground in a huge hug.
"Hey! What are you—?"
BOOM!
The entire kitchen shook. Lita couldn't see anything from under 5.0.5., but she didn't dare move. There was the smell of something burning, and the crackling sound of flames. The bear finally jumped off her and rushed to fetch the fire extinguisher. Lita screamed at the mess before her.
The stove had exploded into pieces, a rectangular formation of black soot in its place. 5.0.5. had shielded her from the debris, but the danger wasn't over. The pot containing what was left of the spaghetti sat on the floor, encased in flames! The bear made panicked growls as he extinguished the flames with foam. Lita panted heavily as she stared at the foamy, black mess.
"I knew paprika was hot, but not that hot!"
Familiar giggling caused her to turn her head towards the exit. Dementia was leaning on the doorframe with one hand, the other on her hip as she grinned triumphantly at the other woman.
"You're gonna get it!" she taunted in a singsong manner. "You're gonna get it!"
Flug pushed past her as he came rushing into the kitchen. He squealed as he took in the scene of destruction.
"What the hell happened?!"
"I-I don't know!" Lita said as 5.0.5. helped her up. "I was just…making the spaghetti and…I followed the recipe, I swear! Then I put in some paprika and—"
"Paprika?!" Flug shouted, his paper brow furrowing. "You put paprika in the spaghetti?!"
"I didn't know it was gonna make it explode!"
"Black Hat's gonna kill ya!" Dementia sang with a joyful laugh. "Black Hat's gonna kill ya!"
"Shit!" Flug said, his hands flying to the sides of his head as he paced around. "Shit, shit, shit, shit!"
"You're in trouble! You're in trouble!"
"M-Maybe he didn't hear the boom?" Lita said semi-hopefully.
"You kidding?! I heard that all the way from my lab!" Sweat started dripping over Flug's bag—seriously, how was that even possible? "Okay. Okay, okay, okay. If we hurry, we can get to the rowboat before he—"
"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY KITCHEN?!"
Everyone flinched at the sonic boom of a voice. They all turned to the doorway in panic. Except for Dementia, whose eyes had taken on their cartoonish heart-shape once again.
Black Hat stood there, his arms firmly at his sides, his teeth clenched into a furious growl. Flug clasped his hands together and began murmuring in prayer while 5.0.5. threw his arms around Lita. Lita just stood there stiffly, biting her lip.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY KITCHEN?!" Black Hat demanded again.
"Lita did it!" Dementia exclaimed, pointing happily. "Lita did it, Lita did it!"
Black Hat's one eye focused on Lita, who gulped. For the first time since her arrival, she found herself afraid of him. Afraid of what he was going to do to her.
He marched past Flug, who was a quivering mess, and up to Lita. His eye flitted up to the bear, who hesitantly let go of the woman and backed away. Lita didn't blame 5.0.5. for retreating. After all, this was her mistake and she had to own up to it.
"Explain yourself," Black Hat said through his teeth.
She winced at his venomous tone. He was clearly struggling to hold back his anger. And he had every right to be angry. But, she had to give him credit for trying to understand the situation before unleashing his wrath.
With a heavy sigh, Lita mustered up the courage to look him in the eye. Oh boy, was that a sight to behold! Red veins sprouted around his pupil as it glared down at her. His mouth was twisted into a growling frown, his lips curled back to reveal his black gums. Steam was coming out from under his hat as his hands clenched into fists.
He looked about ready to explode.
Still, Lita refused to be intimidated. She knew there was no point in trying to fight him. Best she could do was explain herself, and if that wasn't enough to cool him down, she would take whatever punishment he had in store.
"I was…" Her voice came out weak and small. "I was, uh…"
"SPEAK UP!" he shouted, his mouth opening wide.
Wiping his spit from her face, Lita squared her shoulders and spoke louder. "I was…preparing lunch, like you told me to. I followed the spaghetti recipe Flug gave me…"
Black Hat's eye rolled towards Flug, who took it as his cue to hide under the kitchen table.
"It wasn't his fault!" she insisted, not wanting to get Flug into trouble too. "Nor was it 5.0.5.'s! It was all me! I swear! I shouldn't have put that paprika in!"
At this, Black Hat seemed to calm down a bit. His shoulders relaxed, and his lips uncurled so that his fangs were not as visible. He was no longer looking at Lita in anger, but in confusion.
"Paprika?" he said, still growly.
Lita twiddled her fingers. "I, err…remembered my father using it and thought it'd be…interesting to try? I didn't know it was going to cause an explosion, though! You should really put warning labels on those things!"
"Punish her, boss!" Dementia cried, clapping her hands together as she jumped up and down. "Rip out her insides, smash her ribcage, pull out her brains!" She giggled in villainous delight. "Do it now, so I can watch!"
Black Hat glanced down at the pot on the floor. Its contents had been reduced to a pile of black mush. Bending over, he dipped his finger in and came up as he popped it into his mouth. Lita watched curiously as he smacked his lips in thought.
"Nitroglycerin?" he said.
Dementia stopped jumping, her smile dropping.
"Nitro—" Lita said, blinking in surprise. "What?"
Placing his hands behind his back, Black Hat leaned towards her. "Was it your intention to poison me, Miss Gris?"
Her eyes widened. "What? N-No, sir! I wouldn't—"
A smile tugged at his lips. "Because you're going to have to try better than that."
She blinked. "What?"
"What?!" Dementia screamed.
"Wha—OW!" Flug said, hitting his head on the table.
"Mo?" 5.0.5. said.
"You see," Black Hat said with a chuckle, "while nitroglycerin in mass doses might be toxic to humans, it has no effect on me."
He lay his hand on her shoulder. She glanced down at it, more confused than ever now.
"Although," he said, giving her shoulder a squeeze, "I commend you for the effort." He licked his lips with his snake-like tongue. "The paprika was an interesting touch. Gave it an extra kick."
"Are. You. Kidding me?!"
Everyone turned to Dementia as she smashed her fists against the wall, causing it to crack.
"You weren't supposed to like it!" she wailed, breaking through the cement. "You were supposed to be really disappointed and punish her like you always punish us when we mess up! You weren't supposed to like the nitroglycerin I slipped—oop!"
She quickly covered her mouth and glanced anxiously at her boss, who was scowling at her.
"I mean, uh…" Dementia forced a laugh. "Nitroglycerin? Never heard of that stuff! What's spaghetti?"
The room went dark for a split-second. When the lights came back on, Black Hat loomed over Dementia. Giggling, she waved her fingers at him nervously.
"Uh…hi, pookie."
"Dementia," Black Hat said slowly, his teeth forming his signature evil grin. "Darling."
She grinned at him hopefully. "Y-Yes, my love?"
His finger touched her chin, causing her to shiver and succumb to her lovesickness.
"Did you mean to sabotage Miss Gris by ruining her meal?" he asked in a sultry tone.
Dementia whimpered as she gazed up at him dreamily, her tongue sticking out to the side. "M-Maybe a…a little?"
"I see. And you thought," he said, his free hand moving towards her neck, "the best way to do that," his grin dropped into its previous growl, "was to BLOW UP MY KITCHEN?!"
Dementia wheezed as his hand closed around her throat. Lita stepped forward, but 5.0.5. held her back, shaking his head.
"WHY COULDN'T YOU HAVE SAVED YOUR EXPLOSIVE URGES," Black Hat shouted, lifting her up, her legs kicking as she struggled to breathe, "FOR BANK ROBBERIES?!"
"It was…" Dementia coughed, her hands trying to pry his off. "Just a…joke…boss!"
He then sprang up to twice his original height, his hands growing along with him. "LOOK AT WHAT YOUR JOKE," he yelled, forcing her to look at the debris, "HAS DONE TO MY KITCHEN!"
He snarled, his eyes turning red as he released her throat and grabbed one hand onto each arm so that she was dangling like a ragdoll.
"I OUGHT TO BREAK EVERY ONE OF YOUR LIMBS FOR THIS!"
Dementia squeaked. "W-Wait! It's not like I blew up the whole house this time!" She batted her eyes up at him. "Don't I get some credit for that, sweetie?"
Black Hat paused, his giant expression softening a bit. "You're right. For that…" Then that horrible grin returned. "I'll only break one limb instead of four!"
He gripped her left arm firmly to her side, and then turned his attention to her right arm. With one swift movement, he twisted it around.
CRACK!
Dementia's painful yowl echoed throughout the kitchen. 5.0.5. had covered his eyes so he wouldn't see the gruesome sight. Dr. Flug watched from under the table, still shaking with fear, but delighted that Dementia was the victim of their boss' wrath and not him.
Throughout this entire scene, Lita had stood frozen in place, her blue eyes wide as she watched Black Hat proceed to crush Dementia's arm oh so easily in his enlarged hand.
Lita watched it all. Not in fear. Not in terror. But in…awe.
Black Hat had been making threats since she got here, but had never truly delivered on them, never showed the full extent of his power. Until now.
She'd seen many criminals in action. She'd seen them whip out their guns and knives and fists. Some of them she'd managed to fight off, some of them had been a bit tougher. But none of them compared to the display of power before her.
It was…incredible. So effortless, so masterful, so forceful! The victim didn't even bother putting up a fight!
I should not be watching this, Lita thought. I should look away. I should… ¡Újule! How did he even get her arm to bend that way?!
Finally, Black Hat dropped Dementia to the floor and returned to his normal size.
"Honeybun!" She whined, cradling her twisted arm. "That hurt!" She looked up at him excitedly. "Do it again!"
Rolling his eye, Black Hat turned to the rest of his subordinates. 5.0.5. had lowered his paws, and he and Flug were shaking in their skins.
But not Lita. She stood stiff as a board, her big blue eyes staring at him, her mouth open. At first, Black Hat thought he'd finally instilled fear into her, but the fear he smelled was not coming from her.
Even after all that, she still wasn't afraid of him!
"WHAT ARE YOU ALL GAWKING AT?!" he shouted, causing the three of them to jump. "CLEAN THIS MESS UP!"
Flug crawled out backwards from under the table and stood next to 5.0.5. "B-B-But…sir? W-What about lunch?"
Black Hat was silent for a moment. Then a tentacle whipped out from his trench coat and snatched up the pot of exploded spaghetti.
"GET YOUR OWN!"
Then he left the room, his coat sweeping behind him. All was silent for a good long minute.
"So!" Flug said, clapping his hands together. "Who's up for Chinese?"
Snapping out of her trance, Lita leaned onto the table for support. "Uh, yeah. Sesame chicken and an eggroll would be nice."
Thinking she was traumatized from having witnessed Black Hat's rage, Flug said, "I'll order some donuts too."
"You're a prince, Flug," Lita said, trying to ease her shallow breathing.
From the floor, Dementia let out a groan as she attempted to move her bent up arm.
Flug sighed in annoyance. "Suppose I should take care of that."
He stomped over and grabbed her good arm.
"She gonna be okay?" Lita asked.
Not that she was really concerned, but Dementia was supposed to be the one training her.
"She's a fast healer," Flug explained. "I just have to put her arm in a splint so her bones can reform correctly. Otherwise, I'd have to break her arm all over again."
He said that last part a little too delightfully. For a moment, he stared into space, as if imagining the scenario.
"So…what do we do about…?" Lita asked, gesturing around the destroyed kitchen.
Shaking out of his fantasy, the scientist replied, "Just clean up the soot and throw the debris in the garbage. I'll have the Hatbots bring in a new stove."
"Where are they gonna get a…?" She caught Flug's gaze. "You know what? I don't wanna know."
"I'll let you know as soon as lunch arrives," he said as he dragged Dementia across the floor.
"Technically," Dementia said on the way out, "it was my cooking he liked because I added the nitroglycerin!"
Lita didn't mind cleaning up Dementia's mess. It allowed her enough quiet time to process the event that had just unfolded before her.
She'd just watched her boss physically abuse a colleague. A colleague who'd threatened to burn her, then tried to blow her up and then attempted to throw the blame on her.
And Lita had liked it.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" she murmured to herself as she swept up the debris.
She didn't even feel bad for Dementia. She'd deserved it. Still, Lita shouldn't have enjoyed watching her suffer. She wasn't that kind of person.
Was she?
Sure, she had knifed a rapist a few days back, a guy who'd deserved pain as much as Dementia had, but Lita hadn't taken pleasure in it!
But she hadn't been the one to hurt Dementia. That had been Black Hat. She recalled how he had grown in size, exerting his dominance over his victim. How he'd demonstrated his strength, snapping Dementia's arm as if it were nothing but a twig.
She understood why he was a being to be feared. And yet…why was she unafraid?
By the time all the debris had been tossed into a trash bag, Lita had figured out why.
Black Hat had done what she'd wanted to do to Dementia all day. He'd fulfilled her violent fantasies.
And boy had it been satisfying!
"Wǔcān zài zhèlǐ!" Flug called, speaking Chinese as he appeared in the doorway. "Lunch is here!"
"Good, I'm starving!" Lita exclaimed while 5.0.5. tied up the trash bag.
Flug cocked his head curiously at the woman. "Um…what's got you so happy?"
"Huh?" Putting her hand to her mouth, Lita then realized she was smiling. "Oh, um…just glad we finally get to eat, is all."
He watched her with a raised eyebrow as she walked past him. He would've thought she'd still be shaken up over the incident. After all, Black Hat was a destructive force to behold. Yet she was calm, collected and…smiling?
"Strange girl," Flug murmured to 5.0.5.
Hours later, the Hatbots arrived in the kitchen with a new stove, allowing 5.0.5. to cook dinner. Deciding she'd had enough of the kitchen for one day, Lita took her plate of spinach pie to her room. As she turned a corner, she almost ran into Black Hat. He'd appeared so suddenly, her fork practically jumped out of her hand. Black Hat caught it between his thumb and forefinger.
"Not feeling sociable tonight, I see," he said, eyeing her plate.
"Well, I wanted to get out of that kitchen," Lita said, reaching for her fork.
He moved it up higher, hanging it teasingly just out of her reach. Scowling, Lita jumped for it, but Black Hat made his arm longer so that it reached the ceiling. Not wanting to deal with this, she walked past him, confusing Black Hat.
"Don't you want your fork back?"
"I'll eat with my hands," Lita grumbled.
Just then, her plate was snatched out of her hold by another extended arm. She turned back to Black Hat, who was smirking as he lifted her plate up to meet her fork.
"Now, see, there's being evil," she said, marching up to him, "and then there's just being childish."
"I'll return your supper," Black Hat said, sticking the fork into the pie so he could shrink one arm back down, "after you answer me a question."
Lita crossed her arms. "Fine."
His face grew serious as his eye locked onto hers. "Why weren't you afraid of me today?"
Her scowl disappeared. "Come again?"
"Don't pretend not to know what I'm referring to," Black Hat said, leaning close enough that she could smell his icy, rotten breath. "You were clearly trembling when Dementia accused you of destroying my kitchen. That is to be expected. Of course, I suspected it hadn't been you from the beginning."
"You did?" she said in surprise.
"Of course. I know very well paprika doesn't explode, and Dementia is prone to exploding things."
"So," Lita said in thought, "when you…congratulated me on attempting to poison you…"
He smirked. "It was merely a ruse to get Dementia to confess."
She stared at him, impressed.
"The point is," Black Hat said, his seriousness returning, "when I…punished Dementia, and you watched, your fear…went away."
Her cheeks reddened.
"I know I was frightening," he said, stepping closer to her. "I could smell the fear from those three idiots. Yet from you," he stopped, "there was nothing."
Their toes were now touching. Lita's face now resembled a tomato as she gazed up at his curious expression.
"So tell me then, Miss Gris." His teeth gritted together. "Why. Weren't. You. Afraid?"
She couldn't tell him. It was too embarrassing! He'd think she was as crazy as Dementia!
"My arm is getting tired, Miss Gris," he said, tipping the plate slightly.
Shutting her eyes, Lita murmured, "I…liked it."
He looked at her, confused. "Pardon?"
Grunting, she opened her eyes. "I liked it, okay?! What you did…the way you…it was…" She sighed in defeat. "Cool."
She winced, waiting for him to make fun of her. Or punish her for saying something so ridiculous. When nothing happened, she opened her eyes to find her plate being held out to her.
"Enjoy your meal," Black Hat said with a grin. "Although, I doubt you'll enjoy it as much as you enjoyed lunch."
"Shut up," Lita murmured, snatching her plate.
She stomped quickly away before he could pull another juvenile prank. Or worse, get her to say something else embarrassing!
"I told you you'd like being evil!" he called as she turned the next corner.
But Lita knew it had nothing to do with being evil. What she'd witnessed in the kitchen had been a brutal display of invincibility. Something she'd never seen in any being before. Something she'd…craved for a long time.
How did he do it? How had he harnessed such power?
And how long would it take for her to find out?
Sorry, Dementia. You had it coming.
If that simplified Chinese translation is wrong, I apologize and please correct me. But remembering Flug took Chinese in kindergarten, I figured he'd throw it in, considering the food they ordered.