Hatter walked along the canal, keeping to the shadows as he moved along. He tried to keep his swift steps as silent as possible. He didn't know exactly where he was going but he knew the general area. He occasionally glanced down, carefully avoiding rats and debris, watching for movement in his peripheral vision of other lurkers to these shadows. Hatter had been walking places like this for so long that he knew what to do, how to act like he belonged. It was necessary. I was survival.

The waterfront docks offered some protection from the weather and many a place to hide from the suits. Refugees would come here first before finding a hiding place in the city. Only thing was, he wasn't a refugee… not yet anyways and not if he could help it. No, he was looking for someone and he'd know that he found the right place if he found the person he was seeking.

The glow coming from inside a barrel let him know that he was close. He made his way carefully towards a small fire. He suppressed the smile he felt ready to play on his lips. He should hit the streets more often. He'd missed this, dangerous as it was.

Since the figure huddled close to the barrel still had his back to Hatter, Hatter decided that one of two things was in play. Either this person didn't know he was here or this was a trap and others were lurking nearby, out of sight. Thinking it best to play it safe, Hatter cleared his throat

The figure whirled around surprised, a thud sounded as he hit the barrel in his haste, a hood falling back to reveal a familiar face.

"Hello, Eaglet." Hatter said quietly, keeping a respectful distance.

The boy was stony faced as he regained his composure. "Well, if it isn't the man with the hat…How many did you lead here?" Eaglet growled menacingly, hand reaching inside his coat.

Hatter stifled a chuckle at the boy's show of bravado, his own hand behind his back, steady against the pistol he kept tucked in his waistband. "None, not a single solitary suit. I'm on your side."

"No you're not. Not until we say so."

Hatter sighed, "You're the one that told me to seek you out. The fact that I'm here means that I'm here on your terms. If you need a token…" Hatter instead pulled a bribe out from his waistband and tossed it to Eaglet who caught it deftly, "that should suffice."

Even shadowed as they were, Hatter could still see the boy's eyes go wide as he realized how valuable the brand of foodstuffs in his hand were. He eyed Hatter questioningly and Hatter doubted himself for a moment, afraid he might have overdone it, but this was no time to be stingy.

"Time is money, yeah? Consider it payment for a little palaver."

Hatter relaxed as the boy did. "Palaver, it is then." Eaglet said, pocketing the food, and motioning Hatter to the fire. He sidled up, stretching his hands over the welcome heat and relieving them of the chill of the docks while he waited for the boy to start.

"I told the boss, our leader, what you done for us…" He started, haltingly.

"And?"

"Well, he doesn't trust you."

"I expected as much." Hatter said, in a more hushed voice than the boy had used, to set the tone of secretive urgency. Eaglet, predictably, leaned in closer. "But the fact remains that I have ways of supplying your boss' people with what they need. Whether he knows it or not, he needs me."

Eaglet chuckled, "He knows, all right. That doesn't mean he trusts you any and he told me that if I was ever to see you, I should give you this."

The boy handed Hatter a disc.

Hatter quickly tucked it away, subtly casting his glance around but still he saw no one. "And then?"

"And nothing, all the instructions are on the disc. Follow them or don't." The boy's tone was flippant but Hatter could see the triumphant smirk the boy tried to hide. Eaglet, at least, was happy for Hatter's decision.

"And how does your boss have confidence that I even have the means to play this?"

Eaglet laughed, "The proprietor of a teashop, not have a status symbol like his very own record player? That would be a right scandal. Besides, I've seen the inside of your place, remember? You left the headphones on the back of your chair, hard to miss with the sheer size of them."

Hatter smiled and turned, walking away from the fire, eager to find out the terms of this deal, have a drink and figure out what was broken in his head to commit him to such lunacy as helping the resistance.

"Hatter," They boy called out. Hatter stopped mid-stride, not turning around. "I don't have to tell you that it will go very badly for you if you betray us."

"Then why are you?"

"Because… one good turn deserves another." The boy hesitantly replied.

Hatter glanced back over his shoulder. "Mark this then: what's deserved don't always count, and the world turns regardless. You know what the real difference is between us, Eaglet."

The boy tried to act nonchalant, but he shifted his stance impatiently. "What's that?"

"You can still sleep at night."

The walk back to his shop seemed much longer than it had taken to get to the docks. He walked the winding pathways, climbed ladders and balanced along ledges in practiced ease as he let his mind wander.

Why was he doing this? He knew why he should be doing this but the actual reasoning he hadn't admitted to himself before he'd left his home on this dangerous journey. He wanted revenge. He wanted his revenge against the queen so badly that he was sure if they could bottle this feeling as a tea then anyone who drank it would fall ill with bloodlust in one swig.

He would aid the resistance and, by doing so, attack her indirectly. After all, she had attacked him though someone else and Hatter would do the same. He was nothing if not observant. He could learn from this.

Coming up on the back door of his shop, Hatter shrugged off his coat. He unlocked the door, removing the disc before casually throwing his coat in the direction of the armoire without really caring where it fell. He cast his gaze around the room, glad that darkness prevented him from seeing this carpet of grass he'd laid down to impress someone who would never remember him.

He kicked the door shut and the sound jolted Dormie awake. He sputtered, looking around fearful before his eyes fell to Hatter and he relaxed.

"Oh, it's you Hatter…" He mumbled sleepily.

A sense of disquiet filled him followed quickly by confusion. Why should such a simple thing like the fact that he was trusted by someone bother him so?

Because, a dark voice inside him hissed, Dormie doesn't know. He doesn't know what you had to do to earn the Queen's favor and this shop, doesn't know that you just started down a road to making a deal with men who would see that same benefactress deposed, doesn't know just how fickle your loyalties are.

He sighed, crossing to his chair and slumping into it as he snatched the headphones off the back. He inserted the disc and pressed play.

TBC…

"As Dodo said, I have lived my life playing both sides of the court. It was the only way I could stay alive. I made the Hearts think that I was working for them while I fed their enemies."

I want to thank my reviewer NanaRie for giving me a nudge. I would have posted sooner but my Muse and I apparently aren't on speaking terms. Also, I'm looking for a Beta if anyone reading this is available, PM me.