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ninjadeathblade · 2 months

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Control (A Hat In Time fanfic)

Summary: Empress has been confined to the metro for five years and she's growing sick of her lack of freedom. Small things slowly nudge her towards taking proper action and making the metro a better place, once and for all.

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Word count: 7,878

Warnings (there are lots for this chapter oops): Blood, injury, self harm, implied murder, near death experience of a side character, manipulation, swearing, threats, self worth issues, depression, trauma

Author's notes: This ended up way longer than I expected it to be. Anyway, just in case Em didn't have enough trauma (this isn't even the worst thing just you guys wait for the next chapter). Title is the song "Control" by Halsey. Please god read the warnings. Anyway, haha, we're reaching the climax of this story next chapter. Hope you guys have been enjoying this.

Empress wasn't sure how long went by, down in the Metro.

Majesty didn't take any chances, only letting her go to the surface if she had an escort, and never letting her go near the border between the territory that separated the metro.

Most of the time she was stuck running odd jobs around the Angel bases or sorting through paperwork for Majesty.

Maybe it was months. Maybe years. A decade could've gone by, it felt so long.

Contact to the surface was prohibited too, her phone destroyed and every other member of the gang knowing not to allow her to use their devices.

So she waited.

And hoped that Badge and Claw didn't try to do something stupid.

“Apprentice,” Majesty called.

Empress looked up from the book she was reading. “Yes sir?”

The tabby held up a small package. “Delivery to the main crèche. My mate is there, it’s for her.”

Her attention zoned in on him slightly as she put down her book. “You- you have a mate?”

“Yes, now hurry up or I'll take the wasted time from the fur off your back,” Majesty hissed.

Empress scrambled up and took the package, carrying the small box under one arm as she made her way towards the crèche she grew up in.

It was the only one still in use nowadays.

The white and grey cat padded soundlessly into the room, the skills from her training since she was forced to stay down there.

“You must be Majesty's protégé,” a cat called.

Empress spun her head to look at the far corner of the room, a black cat curled on her side and facing the entrance.

“And you must be his mate,” she returned, walking close, placing the package and then stepping back.

The black cat smiled weakly, one paw scooping the object closer. “Please, call me Shadow.”

Empress nodded politely, sitting down beside her. “How far along are you?”

Shadow moved a paw to rest over her swollen stomach. “Any day now.”

Silence passed between them as they both dipped into their thoughts.

Empress knew that these kittens would not have a good life, not growing up down here, despite the advances in more recent years.

“You're his favourite you know,” Shadow eventually said.

Empress fought to keep a scowl from springing onto her face. “I am afraid I have to leave now, ma'am. Good luck with the kittens.”

She paused on the way back to Majesty's office, looking down the paths around her.

Empress dipped down a side tunnel, moving quickly.

If she wanted to try and leave, it would have to be fast.

Two paws, wrenching a vent grate off the wall and then hoisting herself up and into the cramped passage.

She’d only get a few minutes to try and leave.

Not that it would properly work.

Empress ground her jaw as her shoulders and legs painfully scraped against the sides of the narrow vent, crawling as quickly as she could through to get to and exit.

Empress shoved open the grate on the outside of the building, wincing as it hit the floor with a loud clang.

The white and grey cat darted down the street she dropped onto, heading as far from the building as possible.

Empress took a shaky breath in, looking around.

Where even was she?

It must've been some dead-end back path in the Metro.

It was practically empty except for-

A phonebooth.

Empress walked forwards, wondering if it would still work.

If it did, maybe she could talk to Badge! Scarlett! Cl-

Slowly she punched in Scarlett's phone number, breathing heavily as the phone line rang.

A connection chime. “Hello?”

“Scarlett?” Empress choked out.

“Holy fu-” Scarlett sputtered and another voice was faint in the background.

“Darlin’? Who is it?”

“Um, no one Conductor, it's just Trisha,” Scarlett shouted.

The sound of rapid footsteps as the owl moved to a different room.

“Emily? What the hell, where have you been?!”

Empress drew a deep breath. “That's not my name.”

“What?”

“That name. It's not mine,” Empress growled down the line before composing herself. “Anyway, how're you? How's theatre club going?”

“What the fuck?! You can't just disappear for five years and- and then just call like nothing's happened!” Scarlett shrieked over the connection, voice wavering slightly. “Hell Em, we all thought you were dead! Five fucking years and not a word! I haven't seen Badge in years either, or Claw! Where did you all go?! You have no right to run off without a word Em, no right! I don't even do theatre club anymore!”

Tears slipped down Empress' cheeks. “Scarlett I- I wanted to be home, with you, I- I still do!” Empress argued. “Are you still at Matilda's?”

“My mum's…?” Scarlett breathed. “I moved out of there two years ago, Con wanted us to go back to where he grew up so we could raise our kid.”

“What the fuck, you have a kid?!”

“Correction, we have an egg,” Scarlett sniffed. “You would know you had a niece if you were still around!”

“I have a niece…”

Empress' mind worked a mile a minute, trying to process everything.

“Scarlett, I promise you I will-”

A gun firing.

The line ringing empty.

Blood pounding in her ears.

A painful whine as her ears adjusted to hearing again.

“Shit,” Empress swore, looking in the direction the bullet had come from.

Majesty held the smoking muzzle pointed towards her. “Don't make me do this, Empress. Don't make me shoot you.”

Empress' arms shook, her tail moving to curl around one leg. “Majesty, I swear, I wasn't going-”

“Yeah, you weren't going to leave, shut the fuck up,” Majesty cut her off. “We all know that's a lie. Now, you're going to come back to base. And you're not going to pull any more dumb stunts. Okay?”

Her eyes darted around, seeing if there was any other way out the back alley.

If she climbed the large bin over there, she could reach the fire escape stairs up the side of that building and then escape through the buildings.

But Majesty had a gun and she knew he wouldn't have any reservations about using it.

A gun that should have six shots, but down to five seeing as he had cut the line.

Five shots left.

“Empress. Don't be a stupid asshole.”

She dashed over to the bin, gunshots following her as she crouched behind it.

One shot as she left the booth, another when she was halfway between, a third as she ducked into cover.

Two shots left.

She stood up quickly, utilising the adrenaline pumping through her veins, ducking back down as a shot clanged onto the lid of the bin.

One shot.

The sound of another shot ringing out.

No shots.

Pain from the outer side of her right ear.

Red liquid clouding her vision on that side.

The sound of Majesty cursing and fumbling to reload the gun.

Empress heaved herself onto the top of the bin, jumping and reaching for the stairs.

Paws slipping, scrambling for purchase, for some kind of hold.

A wrenching jolt of pain down her left shoulder when she finally gripped onto a pole, her body's weight being suspended from the rusting object.

Empress hissed as she clawed the rest of the way up, dragging herself over the top of the rail of the stairs.

Another shot fired, a bullet hitting the metal beneath her, followed by two more shots.

Her gaze flicked to the side, looking at the window beside her.

A couple steps back, a short sprint forwards, a jump.

Glass shattered around her, spraying outwards and inwards.

Majesty swearing loudly outside as she dragged herself up, sprinting across the room and jumping through another window.

A bullet followed the shattered glass as she fell two stories into the alley.

Juddering pain striking through her leg as she dragged herself up, getting as close to a run as she could as she headed towards Demon territory.

If she could just make it over the border, she'd be safe.

At least for a little while.

Empress panted and flattened herself against a wall, hoping she'd blend into the shadows as a patrol of Fallen Angels ran past.

She was almost there, she just had to cross the open patch in the middle of the Metro.

She could see the Chosen Demon defences from here, all she had to do was get across.

Get across and be safe for at least a little while.

The adrenaline was wearing off, making her movements more sluggish.

Empress reached a paw up to wipe more blood out of her vision, brushing it to the side, fighting to keep her eyes open.

The white and grey cat stuck her head out to look around, only spotting a couple food vendors who had set up in the open area since things were slowly advancing.

She quickly walked, the fastest she could get after landing awkwardly on her leg after jumping out the window and dragging herself across the Metro.

One paw, raised with as much strength as she could muster to bang against one of the doors on the buildings.

A small hatch opened, an eye narrowed suspiciously. “Who is it?”

“I need you to get Radiance,” Empress heaved, slumping against the wall slightly.

“Who's askin’?”

“Tell her that Emp- that Emily is asking for her,” Empress gritted out.

“Sorry, no can do, boss isn't seeing anyone,” the Demon replied.

Empress let out a throaty growl. “Fine. Does Claw still work here?”

“You want me to get him?”

Empress rolled her eyes. “Just fucking do it, I'm getting tired of your yapping.”

The hatch closed and Empress slid down to sit on the floor, chest rattling as she took in deep breaths.

So many things could go wrong in the time it took to get Claw.

A patrol could show up.

Majesty could show up.

She could be injured, killed, even passing out would be bad.

The door flung open beside her, a grey cat quickly moving to crouch in front of her. “Emily…?”

Empress blinked, trying to clear the tired haze at the edge of her vision.

The cat’s head swivelled, barking orders at whoever was standing in the doorway. “Why didn't you come get me?! If she asked for me, you get me! Don't ever turn her away again!”

“But she's an Angel ma'am-”

“And?! She's also the closest thing I have ever had to a child! Get me a medical pack, now!”

A pair of strong arms swept under her, hefting her up and leaning her weight against whoever it was.

“Don't worry kid, you're safe now. Majesty can't touch you here.”

Empress lurched awake, panicking, flailing around blindly in the dark.

A paw clamped down on her shoulder and she lashed out, hissing, claws connecting with flesh.

If it was Majesty, she'd pay for it later.

If it was any of the Angels, she'd pay for it later.

Empress let out a worried whimper, drawing her paw back as quickly as she'd struck out with it.

“Hey, shhh, it's fine, you're safe now.”

Empress' ears pricked, the right one stinging painfully when she swivelled them towards the voice. “Who is that? Who's there?”

“It's Radiance,” came the reply, a light turning on.

Dim light filtered into the room, coming out of a lamp beside where she was.

Radiance was sat to her left, where she'd lashed out, a small dribble of blood leaking from claw marks across her cheek.

“You're safe now,” Radiance repeated, a frown tugging at the edges of her mouth.

Empress looked down at where there was a threadbare blanket pooled around her lap, bandages across her chest.

“I sewed up your old wounds. You hadn't taken care of them properly,” Radiance explained.

Empress swallowed around the thickness of her voice in her throat. “Majesty wanted them to scar over. Said it'd make me more respectable.”

Radiance sighed, reaching out with one paw. “Oh Emily…”

“That's not my name,” Empress responded, voice cracking. Her tail swept up to curl around her legs as she tucked them towards her chest. “That's not my name.”

Radiance opened her mouth to reply until there was a knock at the door.

The gang boss crossed over to the door, opening it a crack. “Yes?”

“Can I come in?” Someone asked.

“She's healing and resting, I don't think it would be good for her to accept visitors right now,” Radiance hesitantly said. “Especially not if what you told me about when you two last saw each other is true.”

Empress let out a long breath. “It's Claw, isn't it?”

Radiance looked between the doorway and her. “Yeah, it is.”

“I don't want to see him,” Empress responded, moving to get out of the bed.

Her leg twinged with pain again, lancing up towards her hip while her ribs ached painfully.

Empress wobbled as Radiance closed the door and dashed over to try and help her.

“Is there a bathroom?” Empress croaked out.

Radiance nodded, hovering at her side, waiting to catch her if she fell. “Yes, just over here.”

Slowly the two cats crossed the room to a door.

“Let me know if you need any help, alright?”

Empress nodded at Radiance, offering her a small smile. “Thank you. For taking me in.”

Radiance shrugged. “You're family.”

Empress turned and shuffled into the bathroom, hoping the gang boss hadn't seen her eyes well with tears.

One paw fumbled for the light switch, slapping it on.

The lights hummed overhead, illuminating the stalls and wall lined with mirrors.

Empress rested some of her weight on the row of sinks in front of the mirrors, staring at her reflection, wondering when she stopped being able to recognise herself.

Tired eyes stared back at her, dark bags formed underneath them.

There was a chunk missing from her ear where she'd been shot on the way here.

Her fur was matted and patchy, half from poor self-care and half from scarring.

She was wearing some loose black shorts, probably put on by Radiance, the only thing that hid any of the body that felt like it wasn't her's.

One paw slowly reached up to run over hollow cheeks, one claw slowly opening her mouth, surveying teeth who's standard had lowered but at least they were somewhat close to her old self.

She dropped her paw again, leaning her weight on the counter as sobs wracked her body, pain juddering through her with every shaking cry.

Slowly she sank to the floor, tail curling up and around her torso, trying to provide herself what little comfort she could when everything seemed so different.

A knock on the door. “Can I come in?”

“No,” Empress clawed the word out of her throat, trying to will herself to get back up.

Get up, get up, get up.

It wasn't that hard.

She'd had to do harder things.

She'd had to lie to Badge for years.

Break Claw's heart.

Push Scarlett away no matter how much she just wanted to hold her little sister.

Pick up everything after Matilda died and try to keep her family from falling apart.

Join the Fallen Angels in the first place.

One arm slowly gripped the edge of the counter, claws unsheathing and digging into the surface.

Dragged her weight upwards, stared defiantly at the mirror.

A sigh as reality hit fully. “This is who I am now.”

A fist reaching out and smashing the mirror beside her, pain lancing through her paw as the reflective glass fractured.

Cradling the stinging appendage near her chest as she opened the door.

“I'm going to nap,” Empress stated, low, definite, not accepting any challenge from Radiance.

Radiance's face crumpled at the sight of her injured paw, quickly bandaging it before leaving her alone in the room, plunged into the dark again.

Empress sniffed and buried her face in the pillow.

She missed her family.

About a week passed before Empress left the room that Radiance had let her stay in.

The gang leader hadn't asked about the broken mirrors in the bathroom; how only one had been smashed to begin with but as the days passed all of them were ruined.

She got away with a few more days before running into people that she didn't want to talk to.

However, there was only so long that growling and glaring at anyone who tried to sit near her would work for.

“Hey Emily,” Claw said quietly, sitting down across from her.

She blanked him. She wasn't going to respond to that name anymore, wasn't meant to.

Majesty had made sure she wasn't allowed to.

“Please don't ignore me. I haven't seen you in years but-”

Empress lifted her eyes to his face, watching as he shuddered at the icy gaze that levelled with him.

“Don't talk to me.”

“Please, Em, don't shut me out.”

Empress sighed, setting down her fork. “What the fuck do you want, Claw?”

Claw bristled, fur standing on end. “What I want is for my friend to talk to me!”

“And what I want is to be left alone!” Empress hissed, voice rising.

“Yeah well you've had that for five years!” Claw shouted.

By now, other tables’ occupants were turning to look at them.

Empress' tail lashed behind her. “You think I was alone for that time? Well guess what, I wasn't. Not one minute. There were escorts and cameras and punishment if I did want to be alone. The only time I was alone the past five years was for maybe an hour or two before arriving here. That was it, Claw.”

Claw shrank back slightly.

“Don't you dare try and tell me what my life was like. Until you suffer the way I have, you aren't allowed to make comments on my life.”

The lights overhead flickered off, then on, before the power completely died out.

Red lights turned on, flashing bright and then dimming before growing brighter again.

“Raid! Everyone to battle stations!” Someone shouted.

Practically everyone flooded out the room, leaving only Claw and Empress.

Claw's eyes met her's as she looked back at him.

The white and grey cat shoved past him, shoulders bumping as she headed towards the armoury that everyone else had likely headed to.

“Emily! Emily, please, I'm sorry, I didn't know! Emily!”

She spun around, hackles raised, teeth bared. “That is not my name!”

Claw stood stock still, staring silently.

Tears pricked at the corners of Empress' eyes and she turned, ready to walk away from him.

A grip tightened around her wrist and she prepared to lash out again, covering her emotions with a tough exterior.

The coping method she'd apparently used for five years just to try and survive.

“That is your name. To me at least. It always will be.”

Empress swivelled her head to face Claw. “I'm not the same cat you knew five years ago.”

“Maybe not the person I'm talking to right now. But deep down, somewhere behind that rough shell you've made for yourself, there's the Emily that I remember. The Emily I fell in love with.”

Empress yanked back her paw, clutching it to her chest.

He still thought she loved him.

Or at the very least, he still loved her.

“Shit Claw, you really are dumb is you believe that,” Empress said, hoping that the poison of words she'd learnt to wield would be a good deterrent.

Claws face just softened and he smiled at her. “Yeah, I'll get to see you again someday, won't I?”

Empress spun on her heel, walking away quickly before he could say something else.

Unfortunately, he followed her, walking alongside her towards the armoury.

“Persistent fucker,” Empress muttered under her breath, picking up a tommy gun off the rack in the armoury.

Claw snickered, clearly having heard her as he picked up a knife and a pistol. “I didn't know you knew how to handle one of those.”

Empress shrugged. “It's been five years Claw and I'm the right hand cat of Majesty. Of course I had to learn how to use tons of different weapons.”

There was the sound of a brief spatter of gunfire outside, small bullet dents going into the wall beside them.

Empress gritted her teeth. “Let's get a move on.”

Empress surveyed the negotiations between Majesty and Radiance, trying to keep herself from passing out.

She hadn't slept much despite finally being somewhere that could be deemed safe, and her wounds kept reopening.

“So, you gonna give me back my apprentice?”

“Your apprentice? You mean the cat who's barely an adult that you shot at, emotionally and mentally manipulated, and kept away from her family for five years?”

“C'mon, do we have to go into specifics?”

“Hey, at least you aren't murdering our little siblings anymore.”

Empress' blood ran cold.

What did that mean?

And had Radiance said… our?

“Look, Radiance, lemme put this politely. Either you give me Empress or I decimate this pathetic little place, seeing as I've found it now.”

Empress' blood ran cold.

Claw stiffened beside her. “Empress? Who's-” His eyes darted over to her.

Her ears flattened back against her head.

“Oh.”

“Well?”

A bullet fired into still air, the gunshot ringing in the silence.

“You know the smart choice, Radiance.”

Empress stood up. “No, this is wrong.”

“What?”

“I'm not- you guys shouldn't be caught up in my problems with Majesty.”

Empress stormed over to the door, pushing it open, ignoring Claw's protests behind her.

Majesty's gold eyes flicked over to her and dozens of guns spun to be trained on her as she burst out into the argument.

“Ah, there's my girl. Empress, come home,” Majesty said, words honeyed.

Radiance moved quickly over to Empress, blocking her path. “No! You can't! He won't change! You'll just end up beat up all over again!”

Empress handed the tommy gun off to the grey cat in front of her. “Thank you. I know. But this is my battle and I shouldn't drag you into it.”

Radiance’s breath quickened and she dropped the weapons she was holding, grabbing roughly onto Empress' shoulders instead. “You don't understand! What he's done so far - that isn't the end of it! He can do - has done - so much worse. Please, don't do this, I don't want to lose any more of my family.”

Empress flicked her gaze over to Majesty, taking in the tightness of his jaw, the way his finger was itching towards the trigger of the gun he was holding.

“I have to leave,” Empress whispered, slipping out of Radiance's grip and making her way over to Majesty. “I have terms.”

“Oh? Little Empress is making demands now?” Majesty scoffed.

Empress bit down on her tongue for a few seconds before replying. “One term. You can do whatever you want with me so long as you don't hurt my friends.”

“No! Emily!”

“No! Em! Don't do this, don't make a deal with that monster! He isn't good to his word!”

Empress looked back over her shoulder as a couple of Angels restrained Claw and Radiance, both fighting tooth and nail to try and reach her.

She looked back at Majesty.

“You're really that dumb, huh?” Majesty sighed. “Fine, I won't hurt those shitheads. But you're coming back to base right now.”

“Can I say goodbye first?”

“Fucking hell, one week away and you've become such a sap. Fine, hurry it up,” Majesty replied, motioning for the Angels to move away.

They dropped Claw and Radiance, with the leader rushing forwards and embracing her.

One paw cupped the back of her head, the other snaking around her waist. “No, no, you can't go with him, I'm not losing you again.”

Claw hesitantly stood off to one side, eyes glistening with tears. “You can't leave.”

Radiance's hold on her tightened. “I'll fight him. You don't have to go back.”

Something close to hope started to bloom in her chest.

Maybe she could stay.

But no, Majesty would never allow it.

“I'll come back someday,” Empress said, barely audible, just enough for Radiance to pick up on.

“Empress, get a move on!” Majesty snarled and she moved back to fall in step with her own gang’s leader.

She'd come back someday.

Empress spent most of her recovery months in the nursery, raising Majesty's offspring in Shadow’s absence.

The three kittens were mostly healthy, although Empress didn't agree with the kittens’ given names.

Countess, a ginger female with a brown splodge over one eye, had been nicknamed Cookie and had a tendency to boss her siblings around.

Commander, nicknamed Cody, was an inquisitive little black kitten, with enough energy to stay awake far longer than their brother or sister.

Phantom was their brother - a pure white kitten who stared with piercing blue eyes and almost never responded when spoken to.

Empress realised quickly that the snow coloured kitten was deaf, and so established enough of a connection through signalling that maybe Majesty wouldn't realise.

It didn't matter that Phantom was Majesty's son when he had two other heirs who were perfectly healthy.

“Empress, when are we going to begin our training?” Cody asked, beaming up at Empress.

“Um, I'm not sure. That's not really for me to decide.”

Cookie wrinkled her nose. “But you're in charge, aren't you?”

Empress shifted slightly when Phantom trotted over and curled up against her side, chin plonking down on her leg. “No, I'm not in charge. Your father is the one who's in charge.”

“But you're his best friend, right?” Cookie chirped, pupils dilating as she began to bat at her sibling's tail.

Cody hissed and whacked the top of Cookie's head before commenting. “No, they're not best friends. Empress is terrified of father.”

“That's why she freezes up when he visits us,” Phantom croaked, a rare occurrence of input from him.

“I'm not- I'm not afraid of your father,” Empress spluttered.

Although there was a nagging in the back of her mind.

About how her wounds were healed over now and if the kittens were old enough to begin training then she wouldn't have an excuse anymore.

She would be subjected to Majesty's wrath again.

Unless she could do something about this dismal situation she had landed herself in.

“Alright, I think it's time for bed, don't you?” Empress stated with a stilted laugh.

Cody cocked their head to the side and narrowed their green eyes. “It's nowhere near-”

“Growing kits need their rest!” Empress protested, carefully shifting Phantom off her leg before standing. “Come on now, your father won't be pleased if you're all too tired for training!”

The trio of young ones shot her sceptical looks but settled down anyway.

Empress' ears stung as the speakers in the hallway whined with feedback.

“Empress. My office. Now.”

Empress tried to mask the fear on her face. “I'll be back tomorrow morning, okay?”

“What's morning?” Cookie asked.

“Goodnight.”

Empress swore repetitively under her breath on the way to Majesty's office.

This was it, he knew she was feeling better, he was going to make her pay for leaving before, he was going to-

“Empress, just who I asked for!” Majesty purred as she walked into his office.

A trap, a trap, it had to be, it must be, he was never nice, he was never-

“We have a special guest today who I think you might remember! They've finally decided to come back and do their job properly!”

Empress gaze flicked to the figure in the chair in front of Majesty's desk.

Her heart stuttered.

No.

No, no, no, no, no!

Why?!

“Hey Em, long time no explanation as to abandoning your family,” Badge said through gritted teeth.

That explained it.

She wasn't going to be hurt.

Badge was.

She'd endure any punishment, just don't hurt Badge.

Empress turned her frantic gaze to Majesty, chest heaving in lungfuls of air while her mind raced a mile a minute.

Majesty smirked, clearly knowing exactly what she was thinking. “Well, I believe you two have some catching up to do. Empress, after you've escorted Badge to their quarters, please return here so we can discuss business.”

Empress dipped her gaze away from him, darting it around the room before eventually fixing it on the floor. “Yes sir.”

“Good. You're dismissed.”

Empress reached forward, tugging Badge out the seat and out the room, tugged them down hallways and winding paths, down steps, through doors that the other members didn't know existed, only stopping once there was a roar of water to cover their voices.

“Fuck Em, why'd you have to drag me to the sewers so we could-”

“What were you thinking; coming back here?!” Empress shouted, hysteria catching up to her. “You should never have come back! He'll hurt you, I can't let you get hurt!”

Badge took a tentative step forwards, one paw snapping at an old angle before returning to its rightful place. “Em…”

“Don't you understand?! He can kill you! But no, that'd be too easy, he'd lose that extra bit of leverage over me. No, he'd make it slow, painful, it'd be closer to torture than death-”

She paused as Badge's paws reached her shoulders, brushing the jacket she was wearing back and off her body.

Empress' fur pricked in the cold, standing on end.

Her ears flattened back against her head as Badge circled her.

“How many of these scars did he give you?” Badge whispered.

“It doesn't matter.”

“How many?” They repeated, tone low and deadly.

Empress winced, paws coming up to try and rub some warmth into her arms. “They're mostly my fault anyway, if I'd just done my job better then it wouldn't have happened.”

Badge let out a loud sigh, one paw grabbing her chin and forcing her to look at them. “I'm going to go back to Radiance. You're gonna make sure that meeting with Majesty is short then your ass is joining us in the Demon base.”

“I can't, I'm not allowed to leave the building,” Empress responded, trying to ignore the slight break in her voice.

“Take these sewer tunnels. They thread under the whole metro, it's how I got here. If there's anyone else you want to get out of that hellhole, do it then.”

Empress took in a shaky breath. “Badge, I can't. He'll kill me if I slip up anymore.”

Badge gently rested their forehead against her's, pulling her closer. “I'm not losing my sister again. You aren't getting rid of me again, Em.”

Empress tried to mask her limp as she got back to the crèche from Majesty’s office, dragging open the door.

Three pairs of eyes turned to her, tapetum lucidum glowing in the faint light filtering in from the hallway.

“Empress?” Cookie yawned.

“What's going on?” Cody inquired, already up and walking towards her.

“I need you to come with me. Quietly though,” Empress whisper-shouted, signing so that Phantom would understand as well.

The three kittens teetered nervously after her, only just having mastered standing upright.

“Hurry, hurry,” Empress urged, nervously glancing down the hallway.

“Where's your jacket? Why do you have a gun?” Cookie inquired.

Empress moved as fast as she could, warily checking around corners before actually turning them.

It didn't matter how unlikely it was that anyone was awake, there was always a night patrol out somewhere but they ran on different schedules every day.

“Good questions. To be answered later.”

Empress eventually got back to the sewers where she'd taken Badge, ushering the kittens along the path that ran alongside surging water.

Empress scowled when the track ran out, connected to an opposite path by only a thin pole.

“One at a time, go, cross,” she instructed.

Phantom went first, bounding across and sending the thing shaking a bit.

Cody went next, pausing in the middle as water lapped up at their paws.

“Empress, I'm scared,” the black cat whimpered, ears flattening back against their head.

“Hey, it's fine, you're over halfway there, it's just a little further, you can do it,” Empress encouraged, watching as the kitten took another couple of tentative steps forwards.

A large wave surged up as Cody slipped, washing the kitten away.

“Cody!”

Empress dropped her gun and scooped up Cookie, dashing across the pole and placing her with her brother before scanning the waters.

Murky green liquid sloshed but no fur.

Empress let out a curse and dived into the rapids, eyes stinging as she opened them under the surface to try and spot Cody.

Nothing.

Swum back up to the surface for another breath.

A ragged black lump bobbed just out of reach ahead of her.

Empress kicked herself forwards, scooping Cody's limp form closer.

Exhaustion fought against her muscles as she dragged herself back to the path at the side, depositing Cody's unmoving form on the stone before heaving her own body out of the harsh flow of liquid.

Empress coughed up a lungful of water, bent over and heaving when Phantom and Cookie raced up to her.

“What’s wrong with Cody?!” Cookie demanded.

Empress forced herself upright, gently picking up Cody.

The kitten’s head lolled in her hand and she quickly began stroking from their stomach up towards their throat, repeating the motion over and over.

Cody eventually stuttered a breath before heaving up fluids, splattering onto Empress' lap.

Cookie let out a relieved wail, Phantom licking his sister's cheek to try and provide some comfort.

Empress forced herself upright, trying to ignore the fatigue clinging to her bones as she carefully shifted how she was carrying Cody. “Come on. We're almost there.”

Radiance had immediately taken the three of them to the room that Empress had stayed in last time she arrived there.

“Who's are they?” Radiance questioned once Cookie, Cody and Phantom had passed out from exhaustion.

“Majesty's,” Empress breathed. “And some cat I'm pretty sure he killed after these guys were born.”

Empress memory flitted back to the sewers. “One of them nearly died on the way here, Radiance. I could've gotten them killed. They could be dead because I couldn't save them, I could've killed them-”

“No, you did not kill a kitten, stop that right now. Don't you dare talk like that, you have saved these little ones,” Radiance argued.

“And I nearly got one of them killed in the process. I can't do this Radiance, they look up to me like a mother because they never had one and their father is a shit head. I'm the only family they got. Family is meant to protect one another and I couldn't even manage something that simple.”

Empress looked over at where the three of them were curled up, Cody sandwiched between their warmer siblings.

“Radiance, they might as well be my own with how much I care for them. If anything happened to them I'd never forgive myself.”

Radiance slipped a paw round the back of her neck, gently pulling her head closer for their foreheads to bump together.

“And you might as well be my kit,” the leader murmured. “But right now we need to prepare. If you and the three of them are missing, it gives Majesty the perfect excuse to start a proper war. So we need to get them somewhere safe.”

Empress swallowed around the lump that had formed in her throat. “Can I make a call? There's somewhere safe I might be able to get them to.”

Radiance slipped her phone out her jacket, handing it off before trotting over to the sleeping siblings.

Empress shakily tapped in the number, praying that her old friend would pick up.

“Who is this?”

“Scarlett, it's Emp- it's Emily,” she sighed.

“You hung up on me before! I hope you're going to apologise!” Scarlett accused.

Empress winced. “Actually my ex-boss decided to shoot through the telephone line. But anyway, I have a big favour to ask.”

“Em, I love but I- I'm so busy right now,” Scarlett responded.

“Please. I- I have some kids that aren't safe where I am,” Empress pleaded. “Just for a week or two I need you to take care of them.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

“You have kids…?”

Ah, yes, she could see why her words could be misinterpreted.

But fuck it, they were practically her family weren't they?

“Not by blood but yes. Please Scarlett, I- I can't have them getting hurt.”

Scarlett hesitated before replying. “Okay. But when you come and pick them up you bet your ass that you owe me.”

“I'll help plan your wedding,” Empress offered, chest warming at the easy banter they'd slipped back into.

“Deal. I'll call you back this evening to sort out the details, I'm out with Trisha at the moment. I love you, Em,” Scarlett replied.

Empress blinked away the tears in her eyes. “Love you too. Stay safe.”

Empress hung up before walking over to the bed where the kittens were still resting, Radiance just staring at them.

“I never thought I'd be an aunt,” Radiance said quietly, almost to herself. “Majesty killed almost all our other siblings and I haven't heard from my littlest brother in years.”

Empress silently sat down at the edge of the bed.

“I love them even though I haven't properly met them yet. But at the same time, I want to cry. They don't deserve this, to have been born here and to grow up like this.”

“None of them are standard, you know,” Empress interrupted.

Radiance shot her a questioning look.

“Cody is an insomniac, it's incredible they've been asleep since we got here. Cookie has anxiety even if she doesn't like to show it. Phantom is deaf. None of them would have pleased Majesty as his heir.”

Radiance let out a broken sob. “Why? Why does my brother continue to gain things he has no right to? No respect for?”

Empress gently patted her on the back and slowly she realised that she was crying as well.

Maybe it was stress, maybe it was exhaustion, perhaps pain, probably all three.

Her foggy mind extracted one thought before she drifted off into a state between sleeping and awake; she had to get them to safety.

“You're all going to go stay with my friend for a little while,” Empress told them, signing along with her words so Phantom would understand. “It's only a week or so and then I'll come back and get you.”

“Why do we have to go?” Cody croaked, still breathing shakily after what had happened the day before.

“Because it'll be safer for you,” Empress answered, trying to smile reassuringly.

“You- you will come back for us, right?” Cookie asked, voice wavering.

“Of course I will. I’d never willingly leave any of you,” Empress replied. “Now I just need to go talk to another friend who's going to take you to the surface.”

Three sets of eyes blinked before chiming in chorus. “The surface?”

“Yeah.” She turned her head to where Radiance was flipping through papers and jotting things down. “Would you mind telling them about the surface while I go find Claw?”

Radiance immediately set down her things. “No problem. His room is in the north corridor, the twelfth door on the left.”

“Thanks.”

Empress looked down as something brushed against her leg.

Phantom stayed up at her. “I don't want you to go.”

Empress crouched, signing to him. I'll be back before you know it. And I need you to look after your siblings while I'm gone. Can you do that for me?

Phantom hesitated before nodding.

Thank you.

Empress ruffled the fur on top of his head before standing and heading through the Fallen Demon complex.

She paused outside Claw's room, thinking of what to say before knocking.

It took a minute before the door opened. “Mrrm…? Oh, Emily, hey.”

“Empress,” she growled. “Anyway, I need you to take my kids to stay with Scarlett. Also, have you seen Badge? I can't find them anywhere.”

Claw opened the door further and Empress' jaw dropped.

Badge was levitating in the middle of the room, eyes glowing while blue orbs circled them.

“Fuck.”

“Yeah, they asked me to stay up and keep an eye on them but I fell asleep,” Claw said.

Empress whacked him round the back of his head, hissing at him. “You idiot!”

Cautiously she tiptoed closer, reaching out to try and poke at one of the blue orbs.

It drifted away, closer to Badge before fading away to nothing.

The other orbs did the same.

Badge's eyes stopped glowing and they slowly lowered to the floor, blinking a few times.

“Badge…?”

Badge's eyes refocused and they looked between Empress and Claw.

“You dumbass, you fell asleep didn't you?! I told you I needed someone to watch me so I didn't go too far!” Badge shouted before sighing and looking at Empress. “Hey.”

“What was that?” Empress inquired.

Badge shook their head. “Just trying to chat with someone, no big deal. Anyway, Claw, please do take Em's kids to go stay with Scarlett. We need this, they'll be in danger otherwise.”

“How did you know about that?” Empress whispered.

“Let's just say that I'm intuitive,” Badge replied with a shrug. “So, that plan you've come up with. That you haven't yet told Radiance about it.”

Empress' brow knitted, worried about how much Badge seemed to know.

“Badge, I want you to go with Claw and the kids,” she said warily.

“Yeah, I know, we'll pick them up in an hour.”

Empress left the room, trotting down the empty corridors and halls back to her room.

Radiance was asleep, tail curled around Phantom, Cody and Cookie's bodies.

Cody let out a chirp as they spotted Empress, stirring the other three awake.

“Radiance can I- can I have a word?”

The gang leader immediately got up, walking hastily over to her and settling a paw on Empress' elbow. “What's wrong?”

“I- I know how to fix everything going on down here. But it means starting a war.”

Radiance scoffed. “Kiddo, you did that the second you decided to bring Majesty's offspring here. But what's the plan?”

“I need to be injured. Badly. Go back to him, claim a Demon patrol did it then we wait a short amount of time until he launches an attack,” Empress explained.

“No,” Radiance growled, grip tightening on her elbow. “No, I'm not going to hurt you. You've already suffered through too many injuries, I'm not making you go through more.”

Empress sighed, a twinge of guilt striking through her. “Okay.”

Radiance loosened her grip and Empress made her move.

Darted away and across the room, locking herself into the bathroom.

Fists banging against the door.

“No! Empress! Come out right now!”

Empress' chest heaved and pain blossomed under her feet, a shard of glass from where she had ruined the mirrors here before.

This was it.

The tipping point, the fork in the path, the decision that would change everything.

Cody, Phantom and Cookie's voices joined Radiance's pleas.

“Come out!”

“Please!”

“Ma!”

Her breath stuttered.

Ma.

That's right, she was the only mother they ever had.

Would they ever look at her the same way if they found out what she had done?

What she was planning to do?

Empress clenched her jaw and stalked over to the least destroyed mirror.

She raised a claw over her eye, looking at her jagged reflection.

Breaking her figure into so many pieces, fracturing her.

That's what had been happening all these years.

Empress paused with one claw hovering over her left eye, looking at her reflection.

She would never be able to go back after this.

This wound would start a turf war in the metro.

Did she really want to do this?

“Come out!” Radiance yelled from outside the room.

Empress flicked her gaze to the door before returning to her reflection.

Claw.

Badge.

Cookie, Cody, Phantom.

Radiance.

Hell, even Scarlett.

All of them would be so much safer if she did this.

She would get them out of here before the fighting started and then assume power in the chaos.

She plunged her claw down over her eye.

Empress hissed, clamping a paw over her eye.

God why did she choose to do this in the bathroom, the blood was so brightly contrasting against the white tiles.

The cat shuddered and swallowed down nausea, carefully moving her paw away from her eye.

Her remaining right eye seemed fine but the other had a gash across it, blood pouring from the open wounds around it.

Shit.

At least it had worked.

She moved her paw away from her face, right eye darting over her features.

A jagged cut went from her brow down to near her jaw, stark red, while blood spread to stain her fur.

Empress shoved her paw back to cover the offending eye, wary of the new dark spot in her vision.

There was still the right side but then the rest of it just faded to darkness, murky and unwelcoming. Unrelenting. Harsh.

Empress slowly walked back over to the door, one arm stretched in front of her to try and gauge her new depth perception.

“Radiance?” She called out, silencing the four cats on the other side of the door.

“Yes?”

“I need you to get my kits out of the room and leave the medkit out on the table.”

There was the sound of a loud string of colourful curses and clattering, the door opening, weak protests before the door closed again.

“Done.”

Empress felt around with her right paw for the door lock, unwilling to turn her head to see something that she should be able to.

Muscle memory should be good enough, right?

Empress tried to brush last Radiance on the way out but was stopped by an iron grip on her shoulders, forcing her to face the gang boss.

“So, how do I look?” Empress tried.

Radiance let out a strangled sob, shaking as she held onto her.

Empress slowly prised herself from Radiance's grip, making her way over to the table and briefly removing her paw from her eye to snatch up the bandages, making quick work of wrapping up that side of her face.

The tremors in her paws didn't matter.

The blind spot didn't matter.

As long as she could keep those she loved safe, that was all that mattered.

“Be good for Scarlett okay? She's my sister,” Empress said.

The three kittens didn't seem to listen, just staring in silent horror at the side of her head.

“Your face,” Phantom whispered.

“It's nothing, don't worry,” Empress replied breezily, masking her true feelings.

Masking the pain, the sense of helplessness, the new weakness she had that could be exploited.

“Just- just stay safe for me, alright?”

Three heads slowly nodded.

“I love you all. And I'll see you again soon.”

But only with one eye; a small voice in the back of her seemed to chime.

Never again the same way you have before.

Empress tried to shake it off.

She was fine.

Everything was- was fine.

It would all be fine.

#ahit #a hat in time #ahit au #ahit empress #ahit badge seller #ahit oc #oc majesty #oc radiance #oc claw #oc cody #oc phantom #ahit cooking cat #< altho she's referred to as Cookie in this #oc shadow #oc scarlett

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