Like I Said: Toying With Her Prey - Tumblr Posts

A/N: Welcome to part 3!!! In my head these next two parts as a cat’s interaction with their prey and then their person - toying with the prey then presenting their person with a prize. and any titles that don’t fit the theme are alliterative

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Part III: Gloat

The over-air-conditioned room gave Bella goosebumps under her long-sleeved uniform. Her office chair creaked as she swung restlessly back and forth in small arcs. She almost wished she felt more remorse for the situation, but years of business dealings had left her cold and hardened towards trivial, temporary suffering — especially when she was the one who benefited. It didn’t mean she sought to cause others pain; it just didn’t seem worth putting herself at disadvantage to prevent minor misery.

So, her gaze was cold and hard as she gazed at Manic Alchemist splayed out in front of her. Using general knowledge and her own specialized knowledge she had as his supplier, she had stripped him of anything that would help him escape. His overly dramatic dark green cape was gone, as were his boots and the detailing from his costume that she had custom-made with escape attempts in mind. 

He looked naked with the key elements of his outfit missing. 

She flicked the seam between his glove and sleeve. His dark goggles were still on his face, left there to protect his identity. Though this meant Bella couldn’t tell if his eyes were open or not, it was easy to tell he was still passed out — his breathing was deep and even, and his expression was relaxed and serene. His face was smooth where annoyance usually tightened his features. 

He actually looked fourteen like this.

Standing and clenching and unclenching her fist twice at her side, Bella came to a decision. She padded over to stand by his head, swept his dark hair away from the side of his head, and brushed a hand over his ear. Sitting down once again, Bella settled in to wait for him to wake up.

It didn’t take long. 

Not three minutes later, Manic Alchemist pushed weakly against the restraints and then bucked harder when they didn’t budge. His head whipped around, half-lidded eyes darting wildly, trying to get a gauge of his surroundings. 

Bella smoothed her red domino mask down. She adjusted the distortion speaker hooked around her ears as she watched Manic Alchemist vainly twist his wrists in the restraints and try to slip his feet out. Honestly, it was kind of pathetic. 

“What am I- who are you- where is-?” Manic Alchemist seemed to have retained none of his usual coherence. Bella supposed that made sense - it would probably be rather alarming waking up in a strange place chained to an angled bench, especially after the simulation he was put through to keep him under longer. 

“Hello, Manic Alchemist. You’re awake sooner than expected,” Bella said levelly. 

Alchemist’s mouth went slack, his unfocused eyes wheeling around where she sat, purposefully positioned in the center of his vision. His questions had stopped, and he didn’t seem to be close to procuring words to interrogate her any time soon.

She continued, “Or perhaps not. Your superior intellect isn’t that grossly exaggerated, so it follows that you’d be able to throw off mental distortions meant to keep you subdued relatively quickly.”

“Who are you? What am I doing here? Where am I?” he asked, words tumbling out of him in a desperate jumble.

Bella sighed in exasperation. She should have known he would be disoriented, thrown off. While it was jarring to see him so unlike his usual self, it was gratifying to have him humbled and shut up. “How much do you remember before being locked up?” she countered, sidestepping his questions.

Missing her change of subject, he answered haltingly, as pieces of his memory fell into place, “I remember meeting up with… her. And then she made some offers, and then, and then…”

“Nothing else?” prompted Bella. She needed to know how much to throw off Manic Alchemist’s suspicion, and anyone else who would interrogate him. Lies were easy enough to handle, given the extent to which she schooled her words anyway, but it was better to formulate coverups sooner rather than later so as to concoct a believable falsehood that would keep her secrets hidden.

“She knocked me out!” Manic Alchemist blurted. Bella cursed silently. “She must have been set up, she’s never so nervous, and she never lets me ramble since it annoys her, and she never apologizes, she, she… You! You must have set her up. Forced her to kidnap me.”

Scrambling to take control of the conversation, and the teenager’s train of thought, Bella attempted to soothe him.  “I don’t know who you’re talking about. And you weren’t kidnapped. I arrested you.”

Once again, Manic Alchemist was at a loss for words. Bella smirked, her expression hidden by the shadows of the poorly lit room. 

Finally, he faintly said, “What?”

“I arrested you,” repeated Bella, overenunciating every word.

“Why?”

Bella pursed her lips in mock consideration. “You’re not a very intimidating figure. You’re not dangerous in close quarters. And the damage you’ve done to the city warrants some punishment.” As she spoke, she ticked off the reasons on her fingers. 

“Wait, wait, wait,” Manic Alchemist said, stalling as Bella watched the gears turn in his head. His hands twitched in their restraints. “Who arrested me?”

“The city.”

“How?”

“Very easily. It’s nothing strictly personal, but beyond your little light shows that tear up a few blocks at a time, you’re a weak villain. Just. A. Kid.” Scarlet Maiden paused for effect then added, “And it’s our job. My job now.”

With those devastating words, Manic Alchemist drooped, head hung low in hopelessness. Scarlet Maiden turned on her heel and left the room. The steel door clicked shut in her wake and reverberated around the room now lit only by monitors and the glint of a captured villain’s goggles.

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