I'd had this chapter in mind from the very beginning, and had already had most of it written out. It's short, but it's one of my favorite pre-planned moments.

Upon returning to the manor, the four of them gathered in the den, which mostly consisted of Black Hat's easy chair and a fireplace. And, of course, several full-sized portraits of himself. The fireplace was unusual, as it was crafted like an open fanged mouth, and the flames roaring inside were green. From a cabinet, Black Hat found a glass cylindrical dome and placed the Black Diamond of Bombay inside.

"Tonight was a success," he said, setting the diamond on the mantel. "Which means," his head whipped around to reveal his maniacal grin, "you three idiots get to live another day."

"W-W-Was our pleasure, sir!" Flug said with a salute.

"Anything for you, love!" Dementia said, pulling a bottle of perfume out from her hair.

Flug sent Lita a look. It took her a second to catch on.

"Oh, uh," she said, saluting too. "Just…doing our jobs, sir."

"Stop sniveling and go to bed," Black Hat groaned, turning his head back towards the fireplace. "You all have more work in the morning."

"O-Of course, sir!" Flug said, already on his way out. "Good night!"

"Sweet dreams, darling," Dementia said with a wave.

Black Had didn't respond to either of them.

"Hey," Dementia said, elbowing Lita as they walked towards the door. "Nice job tonight, kid. You really had me going there when you set that alarm off."

"Err, thanks," Lita said, surprised she was actually getting a compliment from Dementia. "You…you did a good job too. I wouldn't have gotten out of there fast enough without you."

Dementia's smile dropped as she cocked her head at her.

"What?" Lita said.

"N-Nothing, just…you're…welcome?"

The mutant seemed to not have expected a compliment either.

"Not you," Black Hat said, without turning around, "Miss Gris."

Lita stopped dead in her tracks. Had she done something wrong? She glanced at Flug and Dementia, who seemed equally confused.

"I have a few more matters to discuss with you," Black Hat said, going over to the wine cabinet in the corner of the room.

Dementia now had her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes narrowed in suspicion, while Flug appeared nervous. Lita didn't see what the boss was doing, so she was still confused.

"Dementia! Flug!"

The latter jumped while the former perked up in excitement. Black Hat's back was to them as he opened up the cabinet.

"I said you could go," he growled.

"Y-Yes, sir!" Flug squeaked, darting out the door.

"Roger wilco!" Dementia said, saluting before she zipped off.

The door shut, leaving Lita alone with Black Hat once again. Based on her associates' reactions, she sensed the boss was up to something. They knew something that she didn't.

Well, she'd survived being alone with him before. And she'd done what he'd asked. She had nothing to fear. Right?

Unless he was still angry about her almost getting caught. Or that she'd yelled at him.

No. She wouldn't give him the pleasure of scaring her. So, taking a deep breath, she turned to face him. When she did, he had two wine glasses in his hands, one filled with a bubbling purple liquid, the other with a transparent red liquid.

"Do you drink, Miss Gris?" Black Hat asked with a grin.

"Occasionally," she replied, glancing at the glasses unsurely. "I'm sorry, what's going on?"

"Your first assignment was a success," he said, holding the red liquid out to her. "I believe it calls for a little celebratory drink."

She didn't take the glass right away. "How do I know it's not poisoned?"

He cocked an eyebrow. "Have you given me a reason to want to poison you?"

Crossing her arms, she retorted, "Do you need a reason?"

Black Hat chuckled. "Fair point."

A black tentacle suddenly tapped her elbow. She unfolded her arms out of reflex. Then the tentacle took her hand—she'd taken her gloves off back in the van—and held it out as Black Hat placed the glass into it, the tentacle closing her fingers around the stem.

"You're just going to have to trust me," he said, stepping back and retracting his tendril and hand.

Lita huffed. "How am I supposed to trust a villain?"

He grinned further. "You're learning."

"You still haven't answered my question."

"You really think I'd poison my employee after a job well done?" Black Hat said, shaking his head. "No, that would be a waste. Good help is hard enough to find these days."

She tilted her head. "You're not mad that I triggered the alarm?"

He waved his hand dismissively. "You found yourself in a predicament and had to think up a solution on the fly. It was a risky move, yes. But the important thing is you acquired what I needed, and so far, no one knows our organization was responsible for the theft."

He clinked his glass with hers, making sure his teeth were showing as he locked gaze with her. "Cheers."

As he brought his drink to his lips, smoke started coming out of it. Then she glanced down at her own drink. It looked like ordinary wine, but that didn't mean anything.

It was true. He had no reason to poison her. Except for fun. And why have a drink with just her? It was a group effort. Why not invite Flug and Dementia?

Then she remembered Flug's nervousness. Did he think the boss meant to poison her too?

Black Hat was watching her expectantly. He'd made himself comfortable by leaning against the fireplace.

"It's vintage," he said. "Barbera, 1890."

"As old as you then," Lita said before she could help herself.

He smirked. "Truly, it's flattering how young I look to you."

She'd been joking.

"You know what?" she said, raising her glass. "Screw it."

She gulped the wine down. The rich taste made her eyes widen.

"Wow," she whispered, gazing at the glass.

"See?" Black Hat said, taking another sip. "They don't make them like that anymore."

He patted the spot beside him on the mantel. Since Lita wasn't convulsing or gagging, she felt relaxed enough to walk up to his side.

"Tell me, Miss Gris," Black Hat said, using his tentacle to top her glass off. "How did it feel?"

Lita sipped slowly this time. "A bit richer than what I'm used to, but—"

"Not the wine! I meant," he said, leaning forward, "how did it feel to steal again?"

She stiffened as he moved closer, his face now inches from hers.

"How did it feel," he growled teasingly, "when you outsmarted that laser grid," she looked down as his free hand grabbed hers, "when you achieved the impossible," he squeezed her hand tight, but not enough to hurt her, "when you held the…unattainable item in your grasp? How did it feel? Knowing that you'd attained the unattainable?"

After a few seconds of silence, she murmured her answer.

"What was that?" Black Hat asked, leaning in further.

This time, she met his eye and spoke firmly. "I loved it."

His grin was now so wide, she could see the gums of his teeth.

"I thought so. Once a thief," he said, releasing her hand, "always a thief."

Once he'd taken a step back, Lita glanced down at her glass, her finger tracing the rim. "I'd…forgotten…what it felt like. That…that rush when…those lasers…I did that. And I…I got it. It was impossible, but I…I did it."

"To become a great villain," Black Hat said, setting his empty glass on the mantel, "one must take pleasure in their work." He folded his hands behind his back. "And yet, despite being out of the game for so long, you took to it like fish to water. Why you stopped thieving in the first place is beyond me."

Frowning, Lita placed her unfinished drink on the mantel. Black Hat watched this action curiously.

"Why did you stop thieving, Miss Gris?"

She met his gaze again. "You really wanna know?"

He leaned his elbow onto the mantelpiece. "I'm all ears."

"You don't have any ears."

He scoffed. "As far as you know."

She'd never really told anyone why she'd stopped. Not even her father. And yet, Black Hat was probably was most likely to understand. But she wasn't entirely comfortable with sharing something so personal with her boss. Never mind that he literally owned her soul.

"I'll make you a deal," she said, leaning her own elbow onto the mantel. "I answer your question, you answer one of mine."

He glanced at her elbow, which matched the position of his. Honestly, he had gotten used to her constant mimicry of his movements. He'd concluded it was her subtle way of being bold without outright defying him, despite the fact that he'd noticed.

It was almost…endearing.

"Very well," Black Hat said. "What's your question?"

There was one thing she'd been dying to know since before she'd even come here. "Why do you do it? This business, I mean. It can't be for the money. What could you possibly need it for if you have the ability to steal everything?"

"A fair question," Black Hat said, leaning his head onto his wrist. "Money is a symbol of achievement. One who earns money through their own skill and merit, whatever those may be, proves they've accomplished something. Through that accomplishment, they gain recognition. And through that recognition, they gain power. The act of stealing is effective, but all too easy. Anyone can do it. Not to mention it draws attention. So, these days, I only turn to it when necessary."

Genuinely interested, Lita rested her head onto her own wrist. "Like when obtaining priceless artifacts you can't buy with money?"

Their gazes simultaneously flicked towards the encased diamond between them.

"Exactly." He snickered. "Money also comes in handy when it comes to…political donations."

Her eyes widened. "Bribes?"

"Why do you think I've never been incarcerated?"

"I don't know. Because you're…well, you?"

"True. But that doesn't mean people haven't tried imprisoning me with the use of advanced technology and magical spells. I just make sure the government funding for that department goes…elsewhere.

"There's also the consideration of my property. If I had simply stolen it, it would give the more determined government officials and heroes another reason to come after me. If I legally own the land, they can't kick me off it." He chuckled. "But I can kick them off for trespassing."

She shook her head. "You make evildoing sound so…practical."

He shrugged. "Business is business, evil or not. Oh, but that's right." He took his elbow off the mantel and brought his fist to his chest. "You don't believe in evil, do you?"

"If anything," Lita said, doing the same, "I believe in it even less now."

With a shake of his head, he said, "You truly are a puzzle, my dear. Now." He stepped towards her. "Perhaps you can fill in one of the pieces, and tell me why you stopped stealing."

Right. She knew this was coming. Surprisingly though, his revelation had eased some of her tension. He was a villain. The villain. Who was he to judge?

"Full disclosure, then?" she said, returning her elbow to the mantelpiece. "Remember how I said people do things not because they're good or evil, but because they're selfish or selfless?"

"Indeed."

"Well…" She played with her ponytail as she mulled over her words. "It's complicated."

He decided to turn the tables and copy her position. "Go on."

She sighed. "I got caught."

"Doesn't sound complicated to me," Black Hat said. "You feared returning to prison."

Lita shook her head. "It was more than that. I would've been in juvie much longer if Papi hadn't bailed me out." She dropped her forehead into her hand. "He had to mortgage the house, sell the car, all because I'd goofed."

Black Hat watched as she ran her hand through her hair. Interesting, he thought. I don't think I've ever seen her this distressed. Not since she sold her soul to me, of course.

And to think the reason had nothing to do with him.

"I realized," she said with an exasperated sigh, "that if I got caught again, Papi couldn't afford to bail me out again. And he'd be alone."

She wasn't looking at him, but Black Hat was no longer grinning. "So, it wasn't for any moral reason?"

"If you count caring for my father as moral." She rested her cheek onto her fist. "I started thieving to help him, I stopped thieving to help him. I…didn't want to, though." The rest she said under her breath. "I didn't wanna be selfish."

Silence fell. Lita kept her gaze on the wall while Black Hat watched her. Once again, she had surprised him and said something he hadn't expected. But he understood her a little better now.

As a child, she'd been trained to commit evil deeds, but not for herself. Not because she wanted to hurt anyone. And yet, she'd taken pleasure in it. That was something he could relate to. But then, with the same inclination to help someone she cared about, she had stopped doing the evil thing she loved.

No wonder her moral code was so askew. No wonder she wasn't so easily phased by his evil presence. To her, there was no good or evil, so why should she fear him?

And she, herself, clearly didn't fall neatly into one of those categories, as she'd had a taste of both.

A single tear slid down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away, but he'd already seen it. Great. Now what should he do? He was used to tears, but not those caused by something that wasn't him. Should he scold her for her vulnerability? Should he tease her? Should he…say something?

"T-Thanks for the drink, boss," Lita said, dusting off the front of her suit. "If, um…that's all you wanted, I'll just…night."

She headed for the door.

"Wait."

Halting immediately, she turned back. The expression on Black Hat's face was…unusual. His usual grin was gone, and he was staring at the floor.

"I-If," he said, clearing his throat, "if you wish to…that is, if you keep it brief and discreet…call your father…"

Her eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "Are…are you serious?"

Straightening up, he narrowed his eyes into a scowl. "But don't forget we've tapped your phone! So if you even try asking him for help, or give him any sensitive information regarding the organization or your work here, I may just change my mind!"

Then she surprised him once again.

Before he could blink, her body crashed into his, her arms constricting around him. If he actually needed to use his lungs, he'd be suffocating right now.

"Thank you, boss!" Lita shouted, tears falling—this time, from happiness. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"GET OFF ME, NOW!" Black Hat shouted, loud enough to knock the wine glasses off the mantelpiece.

"Sorry," she said, pulling away.

"No," he growled, pointing a furious finger at her. "Hugging. Ever."

"Okay." She was still grinning from ear to ear. "Just thank you. If there's any way I can—"

"Leave."

"Right." Deciding it was best not to overstay her welcome, she ran to the door. "Night, boss!"

As she opened the door, she heard two startled cries. Stepping out into the hallway, she found Flug and Dementia on the floor, beside the door.

"Were you guys eavesdropping?" Lita asked, shutting the door.

"Oh, good, you're alive!" Flug exclaimed, leaping to his feet.

Dementia scowled as she stood up. "And just what were you doing in there with the boss, exactly?"

Lita concluded they hadn't heard much through the door. "Oh. He just offered me a drink."

Without warning, Flug grabbed her arm and pressed two fingers against her wrist. "Pulse is steady, good." He looked up at her face. "No skin discoloration." She grunted in her throat as he pulled her jaw open. "Tongue is a normal color. Any feelings of nausea?"

"He didn't poison me, Flug!" Lita said, shoving him away.

He still looked worried. "It could be slow-acting!"

"I'm fine! It was just a drink!"

"And then what?" Dementia said, her face coming up to hers so Lita wouldn't miss her suspicious look. "You were in there an awful long time for just one drink!"

"Ugh, for the last time," Lita said, pushing her chest, "there's nothing going on between me and Black Hat! We drank, we talked, that's it! Good night!"

She tried walking past them when Flug stepped in front of her. "Then why do you look like you've been crying?"

Having forgotten about the tears, Lita attempted in vain to wipe the stains away.

"Lita," Flug said slowly, "if he hurt you—"

"What? No! He didn't…" She sighed. "Look. It's been a long night. And if you don't mind, I'd like to get out of this sticky outfit and get to bed."

She could still feel their stares on her back as she walked away. She didn't mind, as long as they didn't see her face, and the smile that had returned to it.

Minutes after Lita had left, Black Hat still stood there, stiff as a pole, fuming in fury. How dare that girl hug him? Hug HIM?! The only ones ever to do that were 5.0.5.—that'd been once when he was first created—and Dementia.

But this wasn't a newborn genetic creation, or a demented lovesick one. This was a human being who knew what he was, what he was capable of, how much he disliked any signs of affection. And yet she'd had the gall to hug him?! Why?

But he knew why. He'd done something…nice. What had possessed him to do such a thing? Was it the tear he saw on her cheek? Yes, that was it. He just didn't want to have to deal with her pathetic crying. It wasn't that he cared.

He should've done more than yell at her for that hug. Ripped out her insides like he'd done with that malfunctioning Hatbot last Christmas. No, too much. She wouldn't be able to steal if her insides were ripped out.

But it was late. He would come up with a suitable punishment in the morning.

"Now," he murmured, taking the diamond off the mantel and examining it in his hand. "What the hell should I do with this thing?"

There'd been no client, you see. Black Hat had just been eager to see what his little thief was truly made of.

And boy, was he ever satisfied with the result!

Enjoy the fluff while it lasts.