A/N: Thank you all for your beautiful reviews! –Hugs and gives you a mugs of hot chocolate- You all give me the strength I need to write!
This chapter is slightly different. I wrote the starting from Tarrant's point of view, because we all want to know what he really thinks of this situation, don't we? -Winks-
And you should know by now, Tarrant has this grudge on Chessur and the feeling is entirely mutual! For what reasons, we shall soon find out!
But for now, on to the fifth installment ~
Tarrant Hightopp had to resist the urge to slash the girl's head out, but he knew, the only way to remain safe and to get to the girl was to earn her trust. He was going to kill her in the end, and turn her into one of his greatest experiments. Still though he was rather confounded. How did she manage to find out his utmost weakness? He stole a small glance at the girl.
How did she manage to manipulate him to join her in defeating the queen?
After all, his worst fear was the red queen herself, why in clockwork's name would he even join her in killing the red queen? But the caterpillar did say, oh yes, Tarrant heard it, loud and clear before the blasted thing got killed, he did say Alice would save Underland, which meant the death of the Red queen and the caterpillar was always right.
He could, Tarrant frowned, thinking hard, he could earn Alice's trust, and remain safe until the red queen gets killed. Then he could overthrow Underland himself, after killing little sweet Alice.
Brilliant!
There was only one flaw.
The major problem of staying alive till the end.
He glanced at the Hare's clock, which sat neatly on top a stack of teacups. It was almost midnight. The Hatter watched tiredly as Alice shivered uncomfortably near the couch, her eyes filled with weariness, and perhaps, fear?
Hovering close-by to him was the Cheshire cat, his sea green eyes fixated on the Hatter. Tarrant bit his lip to refrain from giving a snarky comment like 'Oh Chessur, why must you stare at me like that? Don't hate me cause' I'm beautiful."
Oh yes, Tarrant hated that cat. He would rid of the mangy cat. Probably at a later time, considering the attachment Alice had to Chessur. He couldn't go strangling that cat and earning Alice's trust at the same time. He let out an angry huff.
"I will go and check on Nivens." The cat spoke out all of a sudden, a purr in his throat. "In the meantime…" A flash of venom crossed his eyes. "Take care, Alice." He evaporated away, a trance of his grin lingering.
"Protective, isn't he?" The Hatter scowled, flicking a wrist at the area where the cat was last perched and trying to get Alice's attention. She ignored him.
Tarrant glared at her murderously. "Now, why would you come back to Underland? Everything was fine till you came along." He growled, emphasizing the 'you', hoping to distract the girl.
"Yeah, for you, Mr Hatter. However, the tables are now turned." Alice sounded triumphant, as she waltzed over to the window, eyes glazed over slightly.
The Hatter's eyes narrowed. Oh really now? Are the tables really turned? He scoffed inwardly.
"How very sad." He spat, not really meaning it.
There was a pregnant pause.
Alice shivered, looking all alone and pitiful.
"Are you cold, Alice?" He asked gently, mentally forcing himself not to puke at the kindness of his voice. He didn't know it was even possible for him to talk like that. His sudden question seemed to shake Alice, for she whipped around to stare bewilderedly at him.
"No." She lied.
The Hatter's lip curved to a smirk. At the corner of his eye, he spotted the bony figure of the Cheshire cat, watching nastily at the window's edge, the sea green eyes bright and glaring – the Hatter knew. Chessur was not a gullible cat at all. How smart of him to keep a small lookout for a while. Tarrant was not going to prove himself untrustworthy. No way. Especially not to that stupid cat.
He took off his jacket, a smirk still on his lips and sauntered over to Alice, who tensed when she felt his presence.
"'No?' Are you sure? Because you're shivering."
"I don't see why you should care, Mr Hatter." She sounded strained.
He placed his jacket over Alice's shoulder, and joined to stand beside her, aware of Chessur's watchful gaze.
He could feel Alice shudder lightly beside.
"Before you say anything," he leaned towards Alice's ear, his lips touching the cold skin. A sudden burst of inside chills almost caught him off guard; he recovered quickly and brushed it off. Alice had gone rather red.
"I'm doing this because I think Chessur's watching." He pulled away hurriedly, left brow raised.
He swore he saw the cat's mouth twitch angrily at the corner, before he finally vanished from sight. Of course Chessur had the right not to trust him. The Hatter had tried to catch the feline to experiment on many many times, but it was always unsuccessful.
So instead he got a few of his old child experiments to torture and torment the cat, explaining the rapid loss of the cat's once furry body.
"Oh Hatter," Alice began, leaning softly against the Hatter, who cringed slightly at her touch, but did not move back.
"What has happened to Wonderland?" She murmured tiredly.
It's gotten better, stupid girl. The Hatter thought to himself, but he brushed the girl's shoulder lightly, in reassurance.
"It's gone… bad, I suppose." He grunted, trying to sound uninterested, lifting his hand off Alice's smallish shoulders, when he realized Alice was staring hard at him, a frown on her face.
"What's happened to you?" She mumbled, moving slightly away from the Hatter, eyeing him rather cautiously.
"Nothing." He grumbled, rolling his eyes. "You think too much."
"You've gotten… well… Madder." Alice looked away, playing with her fingers. "You tried to kill me. I'm not sorry to say I don't exactly trust you."
Tarrant fought his urge to tackle her, and he took a lot of power to keep his face expressionless and cold. Obviously she wouldn't trust him. She didn't need to tell him that.
"Well," The Hatter tried to sound bored, "I guess so, of course. I'll have to, ah- earn your trust."
Alice rolled her eyes and went over to the couch where the March hare was sleeping. Tarrant watched her, feeling pissed for whatever reason.
Trust wasn't going to be easy to earn. He learnt that the hard way from the red queen herself and how she treated her servants who weren't faithful to her, but Alice was no red queen. She could be influenced. Easily.
By now, the red queen was probably alerted of his betrayal to her. He was probably wanted even more now than before. He shuddered.
It was true. He was a coward. He did not want to be killed. Death was his weakness. And he mocked the Cheshire cat of being a gutless piece of scrap fur. How very ironic.
Alice did not want to fall asleep. She was still unsure of the Hatter's allegiances and she did not want to leave any chance for Tarrant to kill her in her sleep. Letting out an exasperated snort, Alice shifted slightly on the long graying couch, willing herself to stay awake.
She felt the unblinking gaze of the Hatter on her once again.
"What?" She snapped wearily.
"You've yet to cut your hair." The Hatter murmured. He looked as sleepy as Alice and was covering up his yawn with a cough.
Alice found herself laughing. "Well, that's quite an improper thing to say at the moment, dear Hatter!" She giggled, looking at Tarrant's exhausted face.
The Hatter's eyes gleamed dangerously. "I'm not your dear Hatter," he sounded insulted, "call me that again and I'll –" There was a pause. "And I'll slap you." He finished quite lamely.
Alice shrugged, clearly not interested if the Hatter slapped her or not. She motioned lightly to the March Hare who was snoring peacefully beside her. "I'm sort of glad I have you two back."
She looked up at Tarrant, a small smile on her face. "After this is all over, I'll be delighted to have tea with the both of you."
Tarrant smirked darkly. "Fantastic." He scoffed, tipping his hat.
What would Alice give to figure out what the Hatter was thinking? He seemed so distant.
She let out a small yawn, rubbing her eyes, worn-out and sleepy. But she couldn't sleep yet. Maybe when Chessur returned, he could keep a watch on the Hatter whilst she slept. As much as she wanted to trust Tarrant, she couldn't. Not at the moment.
The silence was nerve wrecking.
"Tarrant?" Alice called out, catching the Hatter's attention. He turned to her, a fake grimace on his face.
"Yes?" He snorted, looking indifferent.
"What were you doing in that house?" She inquired boldly, knowing it was a risky subject to take.
At once a grin lit up on the Hatter's pale face. "Experimenting!" He tried to sound distant, but Alice could see a happy flame in his eyes dancing.
"I turn little children, or creatures in Underland into… ah – works of art." He stated proudly. "You needn't bother to understand, you wouldn't be able to comprehend my talent."
He folded his arms, grinning away.
"Is that why you turned yourself into a walking gear?' Alice countered grumpily, pointing at the steel gear protruding behind his back.
"Exactly. Precisely. Except I'm not a walking gear, you stupid girl." He scoffed, tilting his chin up.
"I am the clockwork."
"I'm not a stupid girl." Alice grunted, rolling her eyes. "You're no Clockwork, you're a coward."
To this the Hatter fell silent, his eyes darkening.
Alice kept mum too. The Hatter apparently experimented on children, and here she was, having a hearty conversation with him. Tarrant Hightopp seemed to have mood swings equivalent to a pregnant woman. Alice thought inwardly, glancing at him, his scowl returning to his face.
"How do you plan to kill the red queen?" He broke the silence, facing Alice, a look of unconcern on his face. His bright green eyes penetrating into her baby blue ones.
"Considering yourself weaponless and defenseless, I doubt you can even manage to enter her castle without being slaughtered." He blinked lightly. "I myself don't even know her weakness." He sounded rather deflated.
Alice nodded. He was right. How was she going to kill the red queen? With her bare hands?
"Wit is the most powerful thing the world. I'd choose brains over brawn any day." She stated, wringing her hands.
Tarrant scowled darkly. "Suppose you talk some sense into her?" He jeered coldly. "We're all doomed then."
"I have Chessur and the rest." Alice retorted back, standing up, and glaring at the Hatter, who smirked even more.
"Oh yeah? What use will they be?" He took a step closer to Alice, sneering.
"Help." She snapped, also taking a step closer.
"Help?" Tarrant echoed, tracing a finger along his jaw line. He glanced slightly at Alice then at the sleeping Hare.
"You have a crazed Hare, a cowardly cat, yourself, that clock-obsessed rabbit," The Hatter counted them off his gloved fingers, "Oh and an untrustworthy Hatter." He added slowly. "What you need, is a real army - much like the white queen's chess pieces."
Alice bit her lip. Unsure of the Hatter's idea, she cocked her head to the right. "What good will they be? If they were that powerful, the red queen wouldn't have overthrown Underland!" She poked at finger at the Hatter's chest.
"Are you dumb or daft? You are the one to save Underland." He sounded annoyed. "The white queen has gone into hiding, but if she knows you're here to save us, she'll gather up her troops and form an army with you."
"In any case, the red queen is the very least of your troubles."
Alice raised a brow, but the Hatter spoke no more.
"Fine, I'll go find the white queen." She sighed, shaking her head. "After Chessur returns."
At those words, Tarrant let out a scornful snort. "He waits for no one." He growled suddenly.
"Chessur?"
"No, you buffoon. Time." The Hatter sounded stern. Was that fear in his eyes? She knew the Hatter had been punished for murdering time and was to stay at six precisely everyday, but she could not comprehend his seriousness.
Probably one of his mood swings.
"I'm waiting for Chessur to return whether you like it or not." She noted, rubbing her temples.
"What if he does not return?" Tarrant whispered, his voice gentle, a mischievous smile on his face. "What if he ah – decides to run away?"
"He wouldn't." Alice snorted indignantly. "He's not like that."
"How can you be so sure?" The Hatter's smile widened. "How long have you known him? A few hours? How can you be so sure he won't take the chance to run off?"
Alice clenched her fist, averting her gaze away. "He was the one who requested for my help. He won't leave me here in the lurch. After all, he waited for me when I went to collect you and the Hare." Her voice was filled with uncertainty.
"Chessur is a coward." The Hatter murmured the grin on his face gone. "Why didn't he follow you in my humble abode? Even though he knew what I could have done with you? He's a coward. A weakling. Oh yes, he'll stand by you when everything's all fine and dandy, but when trouble comes –" The Hatter snapped his fingers, "– poof! He'll just disappear."
The grin reappeared.
"Why do you trust him, Alice? He's not better off than me." There was a pause.
Alice looked coldly at him. He was right. Why didn't Chessur follow her into the Hatter's lair when he knew what the mad hatter could've done to her?
She wasn't going to let the Hatter prove Chessur not trustworthy. She moved forward, baring her teeth at him.
"Likewise, why would I ever trust you?" She glared at the Hatter, her face inches away from his.
There was no comeback. The Hatter turned away, looking once again defeated and speechless.
Alice went back to the couch and slumped down, a triumphant grin on her face. Beside, the Hare let out a snore.