I thought of a little scene for Nyakuza Metro (mostly for fanfic material). After the Empress has Hat Kid cornered in the elevator, they actually have a civilized conversation (even though the Empress still wants her dead). The Empress would be hurt by Hat Kid's "betrayal", while Hat Kid believes that she would have double-crossed her sooner or later (much like how Mustache Girl, the Conductor/DJ Grooves, and the Snatcher turned on her), and decided she didn't want to get "burned" again.
I think I understand what you mean? But when you say the Empress would be “hurt” by Hat Kid’s betrayal I assume you mean hurt financially? Because I doubt her feelings would be very hurt.
Anyway I’m not very experienced at fic writing but I’d like to give this a shot, if you don’t mind me using your idea. I’d put this under a Read More but it seems I can’t from mobile???
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“Well well well. Look what the cat dragged in.” Usually Hat Kid would giggle at a pun like that, but the dread she felt upon seeing the tall mob boss standing in front of her instantly drained any possible humour from the situation.
The hatted child frantically tried to back away, only to bump into the group of nyakuza cats that had gathered behind her. The Empress sneered down at her while the other cats seemed almost amused at her misfortune.
“Step inside, won’t you?” With much reluctance, Hat Kid soon found herself standing next to the feared feline gang leader in an elevator that suddenly felt much too small. For a moment she thought that the Empress would kill her then and there, but the slender cat kept her composure, with little trace of the fury she displayed mere minutes ago.
“Did you think you’d get out?” She asked smugly. “Did you think you were smart, little girl?” Hat kid only fiddled with the end of her tunic, too scared to say any witty reply she might have had.
“I thought I could trust you,” The Empress continued. “It’s so rare I make a bad investment. That you’d be so greedy as to steal from me- so bold for someone so small.” Hat Kid suddenly remembered the first time she had been called that. Greedy. Almost ironically, it was in a situation very similar to the current one: back when that movie director tried to keep one of her time pieces for himself. She didn’t think it was a coincidence that the ones calling her greedy are the same ones who’ve shown such avarice themselves. The hypocrisy.
“All my fault, really. I should have a better eye for who I elevate,” The imposing cat next to the child lashed her crooked tail back and forth and pulled her lips slightly back; the only tells of the anger that lurked beneath her calm demeanor. “You could have been someone important here one day. But you’ve disappointed me- and it’s time I cash out”
Hat Kid opened her mouth to protest, but the Empress continued speaking.
“I mean really, what were you thinking when you decided to betray me like that? I’ll have you know this little stunt of yours has cost me a lot, both in funds and in reputation!” When the gang leader begun to raise her voice, it was like the words in Hat Kid’s throat had finally freed themselves.
“You would have betrayed ME anyway!” The dark cat seemed taken aback by the child’s sudden outburst.
“I… What?” She didn’t know what kind of excuses she expected her former underling to come up with, but it wasn’t that.
“Even if I hadn’t turned on you and taken my time pieces back, you would have just tried to kill me at some point either way!” The Empress kept her mouth shut skeptically as Hat Kid elaborated in an agitated way.
“It’s what happens every time! Almost everyone I meet eventually decides they want the time pieces for themself, and that they’re important enough to try and murder me for!” The hatted child had tears welling up in her eyes by this point, and it was obvious she was trying very hard not to cry. “I wasn’t gonna let you do the same thing…”
There was a short silence where the yakuza leader tried to process everything the little girl next to her had just said. Her response came out quieter than intended:
“…I would not have tried to do that.” Hat Kid looked up in surprise only to find that the cat had since averted her gaze.
“I said, I would not have done that to you,” The Empress peeked down at the short girl out of the corner of her eyes. Whatever emotion she was conveying wasn’t one the child was familiar with, but her slitted pupils no longer held the anger that was there a minute ago.
“Didn’t I tell you before? I value loyalty, and I was certain I had earned yours,” the boss continued. “You did everything I asked of you without question, in all honesty you were quickly becoming my favourite underling. I never had any plans to betray our agreement,” she said, then turned her gaze back to the wall so that the child couldn’t see her face. Despite this, her lowered ears and tail betrayed her faintly sullen mood.
“In fact, I was hoping you would continue to work for me in the future. I was prepared to offer you a generous promotion, you know.”
Hat Kid didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to believe the Empress’ words, but she sounded uncharacteristically sincere. To think that the ONE person who WASN’T plotting to kill her was the leader of an organized crime syndicate was laughable, but it seemed to be the truth. Perhaps if she hadn’t interfered with the heist, then the nyakuza wouldn’t have turned on her- not to say that she wouldn’t have interfered anyway, she needed those time pieces in order to return home!
Just when she finally found a response, a ding notified the duo of the elevator doors opening and two new passengers stepping in. The blue caps on their heads made it quite clear who these cats were, and the Empress immediately went straight backed.
“Oh! Officers!” The cops didn’t seem to pay them much mind, only nodding in brief acknowledgment. “How… convenient. I was just about to get out.”
The yakuza leader rather frantically pressed a button on the wall until the doors of the elevator opened again, and she scurried away without another word. Once again, another situation Hat Kid would have normally found funny.
The child watched the crime boss through the closing doors, and wondered if she still wanted her dead for all the trouble she had caused.
The answer was probably yes, but who knows. Maybe she’ll have a change of heart