#imagine my surprise to find this as a prompt on the au bot twitter

[the-badger-mole]

Film Noir AU 3

The set lasted about 45 minutes, but by the time Kitty took her final bow and left the band to play alone for the rest of the night, it felt like I'd only been sitting in that booth for a few moments. I've never been the sentimental type who gets lost in music, but between the band and Kitty's voice, it was...well, almost magical. I'd asked for a glass of water while I waited. Maybe that Jun dame slipped a Chong in my drink.

Kitty finally made her way over to my table, looking like danger in that red number she was wearing, and if it don't beat all how she managed to make the satins and velvets of the booth look real just by sitting down in it.

"Quite a voice you got there," I said as she settled in. "Makes me wonder why you're only covering instead of headlining." Kitty just shrugged.

"I've never been one to want the limelight all the time, Detective Kaji," she said. She brought her long, chestnut curls over one shoulder and tilted her head, exposing her long graceful neck in a move I'm sure she's practiced. "Besides, it's my name on the joint. I figure that's all the notoriety I need."

"Perhaps," I said. I sat back in my seat and thought of what to say next. The band was still on stage, playing some haunting melody. Between the music and the smokey haze around the room, I felt like someone was trying to cast some sort of spell. It was a good thing I had a strict no drinking policy while I was on the job, or I might've found myself too ossified to do what I came to do.

"Ms. Arnaq," I said, taking a long breath in. "Are you sure this is where you want to have this conversation?" Kitty raised an eyebrow at me and her entirely too enticing ruby lips turned up into a small smile, as if I'd just told her some amusing anecdote.

"Not at all, Detective," she said. "I just thought it'd be rude to ask you to come all this way and not at least offer you something to eat." She looked at the empty table between us, and then back at me.

"I don't make a habit of eating on the job," I told her. She sighed and then stood up.

"Then I suppose we can continue this meeting in my office." Kitty lead me away from the main dining room and into a room backstage.

Kitty's office, like the rest of the joint, had the air of borrowed finery. The dim light made everything look as rich and supple as the woman who ran the place, but beneath the smell of fresh flowers and gin, there was a slight musty odor. Not altogether unpleasant, but clearly indicating that Kitty hadn't been the first to lay claim to the velvet seats and intricate rug. I took the guest chair in front of the wide, wooden desk. I expected Kitty to sit in the highbacked chair on the other side, but instead she perched on top of the desk itself and crossed her legs. Dame had a set of gams that make a lesser man spend his last coin to keep her in all the furs and silks she wanted.

"Well, Ms. Arnaq," I said after a moment. "Any ideas who might want to cause harm to your brother?"

"Ha!" Kitty gave an unladylike snort that made me like her better. "Who doesn't have it in for him? You see, my brother is...very well connected."

"I suppose being the mayor will do that," I said. Kitty's brow arched high into her hairline, but I'll give her credit. That was the only show of surprise on her face.

"I see you're very good at your job," she said.

"It's why I get paid so well," I smirked at her. "Clever idea changing your last name. It took me a bit of digging to figure out the connection between Mayor Sokka Imiq and Katara Arnaq the soju-joint owner." For a moment- just a moment- Kitty looked rattled she crossed her arms and rubbed her elbows.

"I go by my mother's maiden name, and my brother kept the family name," she told me. "We decided a long time ago that the fewer people who know we know each other the better. My brother...well, he's good for this city."

"And you?" I asked, leaning forward in my seat.

"I keep folks entertained," she said with a shrug. "The best of society has been in my establishment- not that you'd ever get them to admit to it. It gives those that are considered the worst the opportunity to plead their cases without the complications of law getting too involved."

"I see," I said. "And being the mayor, your brother is..."

"He has necessarily kept his distance," Kitty said. "But he's more or less turned a blind eye to what I'm doing. I'm one of the few joints that hasn't been raided. My brother knows what I do is ultimately beneficial to his cause."

"And that cause is?" I was definitely intrigued. Kitty leaned forward, closing some of the distance I'd left.

"An end to the mob's hold on the city."

Part 1, Part 2