Chicago Reverse
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Chicago, okay?
Author's Note: Sorry, I haven't updated for AAAGES! (Damn writer's block …) Also, thanks to sweet775 for beta-ing!
Positions of Power
Velma was on a devious high as she fingered the bills in her pocket. She sniggered, remembering the look on Roxie's face when she realized that all her money was gone. Priceless, she thought. She sauntered up the corridor, heading to Mama's office. Mama was inside, almost as if she had been expecting Velma's visit.
"Hello, dearie," Mama greeted her.
Velma said nothing, but simply pushed some bills across the desk. Mama picked them up, tucked them away and looked Velma straight in the eye.
"And where would you have happened across enough dough to reconsider?" Mama asked.
"An unexpected place," Velma replied nonchalantly.
Mama raised an eyebrow.
"Such as a certain somebody's pocket?"
The only physical reaction Velma gave as Mama's words sunk in was to blink in shock. Composure, Velma told herself. But her insides were reeling. She had no idea how Mama would react to a denial or an affirmation. Deciding that she had nothing to lose and that denial would be pointless if Mama had seen what happened the previous night, Velma looked at Mama with an air of self-assurance.
"And your point is?"
"My point is, kiddo, you gonna get yourself one hell of an enemy in Roxie Hart now," Mama chuckled. "If she ain't the most vindictive cow in Illinois, I'll be damned."
Velma rolled her eyes.
"And what's an air headed blonde going to do? Toss her hair at me?"
Mama leaned closer to Velma.
"Despite what you might think, there is something going on inside that pretty little head of hers."
"Do you speak from experience?"
Mama stood up, walked around the desk and put a hand on Velma's shoulder.
"Trust me, kiddo. She ain't above nothing."
In her cell, Roxie was fuming. The nerve of that Velma Kelly! she thought to herself. Incensed, she had sworn revenge. The only question now was what the revenge in question would be. It infuriated her that she couldn't think of a single thing. A tiny part of her was telling her to forget it and use her vaudeville savings earning to pay for her defence, but a much larger part shoved the thought away. Roxie Hart wanted revenge, and Roxie Hart was going to damn well get it … and the money back, too!
She was paying the Hunyak for doing her laundry when Velma walked by. The smug smile playing on Velma's lips drove Roxie crazy. How could she seem to control everything so effortlessly? She glared at Velma who leant towards her.
"Welcome to the big, fat, ugly, real world," Velma whispered.
It was all Roxie could do to restrain herself from slapping Velma across the face, but instead, she grabbed her wrist and looked her in the eye.
"You ain't seen the half of it," Roxie whispered, trying desperately to keep her voice steady. If looks could kill, Velma would have been charged with murder … again.
As she watched Velma's retreating back, Roxie prayed that she could live up to her word.
Velma walked away from Roxie a little confused. She had been surprised at the other woman's response. The kid's tougher than I thought, she grudgingly admitted to herself. Velma found herself wondering what Roxie had up her sleeve and whether it would have been worth it. But that thought was quickly shoved away. Velma had always wanted to the best, and now that is was within her grasp, she sure as hell wasn't going to let it go.
Roxie woke the next day, still filled with maddening mental blanks as she tried to think of a suitable revenge. As the cells were unlocked and the murderesses filed out for breakfast, Roxie hung back. She wasn't hungry. Sneaking a glance as her enemy walked away unconcernedly, Roxie decided that a quick snoop might prove useful.
She quietly peeked through the bars of Velma's cell, trying to find anything to inspire her. A quick scan proved useless so, disappointed, Roxie turned away. But then a breeze came through the prison and Roxie heard a rustling of paper. Turning back, she saw, hidden in the shadow of Velma's bed, a small notebook lying open. Curious, Roxie slid back the door and retrieved it. As she flicked through it, a small smile crept across her face. Pocketing Velma's diary, Roxie realised that the perfect revenge was staring her in the face.
She sat down with Velma, Liz and June but didn't bother to get any food. Liz and June greeted her, but Velma simply shot her that smug smile that Roxie detested. She reminded herself that, in a few minutes, she would be wiping that smile off Velma's face.
"So, Velma," Roxie said, offhandedly. "You never told us that you were in vaudeville."
Velma looked at Roxie, confused, but Liz and June seemed interested.
"Really, Vel?" Liz asked. "Which club?"
"I –" Velma began, but Roxie cut her off.
"Well, technically, she doesn't have a club. How many turned you down, Velma? Eight? Nine, was it?"
Roxie watched with satisfaction as Velma's face turned an incredible shade of crimson. Velma stood up and stormed away as Liz and June watched in confusion.
"Roxie, what was that all about?" June asked.
Roxie didn't hear her. She let Velma get halfway to the door before chasing her. As she reached the other woman, she tapped her on the shoulder. Velma turned around, furious.
"And what was that you offered in exchange for an act? Desperate, aren't you?"
Velma turned purple as Roxie stood back, a smug smile playing on her lips.