So before we kick this off, there will be NO sex scenes in this story. I do not write those kinds of things however, they will be implied or hinted at. This is a story I have been tossing around in my head for awhile and only just started throwing it together, I hope you all enjoy!
Ruby hummed peacefully to herself as she watched the sidewalks run wild with businessmen and women departing from their work and finally heading home for the evening. All of which glad the day is over with and wanting nothing more to spend the evening with their families before returning to the office for another day.
To Ruby's delight however, the one thing that these people had in common was their predictability. They were always in a hurry to catch the train or bus. Some rushing to a parking structure that held their luxurious sports car. Life between work and home was a blur for them, except for Ruby.
Pick-pocketing was an art in its own right. Much like a engineer, planning his or her next design. Ruby planned her every moment, her look, what she said and how she said it.
Satisfied that the sidewalk was crowded enough, Ruby began walking through the sea of suits. Appearing lost, she bumped into an older man holding his scroll to his ear, visibly irritated that someone bumped into him. Ruby flashed him a guilty look and apologised immediately. The man's face softened and he turned to his call, counting his daily routine.
Moving quickly through the crowd, Ruby sidestepped into a nearby alley and opened the stolen wallet - Without even bothering to look at the ID, Ruby withdrew the lien before depositing the wallet in a nearby trash bin.
She hummed to herself as she stashed the stolen money in her own wallet. The entire motion took less than ten seconds. An 'accidental bump here and a sad pout there' and she was on her way with their money.
To any novice pickpocket, the financial district was a sure way to get busted. But to the seasoned thief, it was a gold mine. Nothing provided a better shield than the lack of perception these people held.
As the flow of potential targets began to dwindle Ruby hid in an alleyway to count her catch of the day.
"34..56.. 242 Lien. Not bad today." Ruby mused, as she stuffed the stolen money into her wallet.
It was far from honest work. However it provided the means for Ruby to be fed each day and least a change of clothes. She didn't have a home per-say. She merely drifted between abandoned buildings to newly constructed ones that the construction crew had left for the evening.
The colder months were fast approaching, therefore tonight Ruby scouted a new housing project. A few homes were already set up and awaiting inspection. Ruby admired each home carefully, she dreamed that one day she would be able to live in one of these homes herself instead of squatting.
Sighing, Ruby picked the lock of a two-story home that was closest to the communities wall. She always picked these for the off chance of security or even police arriving, she could easily scale the wall and be gone before they even had a chance to find her.
Ruby toured the modeled home at her own pace. The decorations in the home were what she had found in almost every other she stayed in. The perk of this, was that there was generally a bed she could rest in for the night.
Ruby chuckled at the idea of having a real job and buying one of these nice homes. The problem was the extra set of ears planted on the top of her head, as well as her tail. Granted, she could easily hide these extra appendages, and get a job no problem. The issue with this was, it wouldn't last.
Even though Faunus earned their right beside humankind and worked together as equals, not all Fanus were giving this right. Wolf Faunus for example, were nearly extinct due to their aggressive and territorial nature. While not all Wolf Faunus possessed these traits, enough did and that was all humankind needed to formulate a decision.
Ruby however, was always able to hide her heritage. Her first night spent on the street, she stole a red hoodie. Something she could wear with the hood up to hide her ears at any giving time, as well as baggy cargo pants to hide her tail.
Ruby skipped throughout the home, exploring each room as if it held a new adventure for her. She hummed once more as she ascend the stairs to the upper floor of the home. She found the master bedroom with a king-sized bed in the middle of the well furnished room. Ruby jumped on the bed and grabbed the nearest pillow, clutching it to her chest. She let her mind drift about her fantasies before falling asleep.
Ruby awoke to the sun assaulting her eyelids.
"Freaking sun.." Ruby groaned and sat up irritably. She was far from a morning bird but she couldn't sleep in.
Between the mornings and her target group, Ruby would wander the streets of Vale aimlessly. Occasionally pickpocketing only if there was a large enough crowd to disappear in.
Checking her watch, Ruby settled for a short breakfast before she began her daily craft. As she roamed the somewhat crowded streets, she spotted a suited woman angrily yelling into her scroll. Examining the woman's motions, Ruby could easily tell the woman's income. She was obviously well paid, and sure wouldn't miss a few lien from her pocket.
The hardest part of picking pockets was determining where the wallet was. However, it was not as hard in business attire. The slight bulge in the woman's right pocket gave Ruby all the information she needed as well as a plan. The woman moved around as she spoke on the scroll, this played in Ruby's favour. She watched the woman pace before learning her movements then began walking towards her target.
With each step, Ruby began to put on a facade of being in a rush and looking panicked. This tactic sold well for marks that were more isolated from a crowd. Like a fierce predator stalking its prey, Ruby slowed her approach and waiting until she saw the perfect opening and began to speed her walking.
"No Chief I- Yes sir I will handle it as soon I arrive. No sir, it's no problem."
Ruby smiled for a brief second as she collided into the woman, quickly snaking two of her fingers into the woman's pocket and retrieving the fat leather wallet.
Ruby made a dramatic fall to the ground before scrambling to her feet. "I'm so sorry miss! I'm in a hurry and I didn't see you!" Ruby spurted out frantically as she stepped backwards rapidly.
"It's fine miss." She muttered. Ruby smiled grimly and took off.
She made it roughly fifteen feet before she heard a yell behind her.
Ruby's feet picked up into a full blow sprint as she heard the rapid movements of the woman behind her.
"Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap." Ruby muttered to herself as she swerved into a nearby alleyway. She heard the woman in hot pursuit and gaining ground.
The woman was not a typical drone that Ruby was used to, that she learned quickly. This woman clearly had experience in chasing.
Ruby opened the wallet to take its contents before dropping the wallet. It was an old tactic she used in her early stages of pick pocketing when she was caught in the past. Anyone who chased it generally stopped after receiving back their property.
As she opened the wallet, Ruby's eyes widened in horror. Next to the driver's license was a badge of the Vale Police Department. She had targeted a cop!
"Crap!" Ruby yelled. She dared peek behind her and saw that the cop was getting closer.
Ruby switched into high gear and behind running as fast and as hard as she could, jumping out of the alleyway and back onto the sidewalk. Ruby rushed through a crowd of people, hoping the wave of bodies would at least slow the angered cop, yet it didn't.
"Oh come on!" Ruby hollered and made a sharp turn back into the allies. A decision she instantly regretted. As she turned into the alley, she was met with a brick wall and two steel doors on either side.
"Crap…" She muttered once more and turned around as she heard footsteps abruptly halt behind her.
Ruby locked eyes with the cop, and flinched as she saw the piercing amber eyes that was dead fixed on her. The woman took a moment to catch her breath before marching towards Ruby.
Ruby extended the wallet with the lien still inside, hoping it would be enough for the officer to let her go with a warning.
"You want to explain yourself?" She asked.
The question derailed Ruby for a moment. She met the officer's amber eyes once more before looking shamefully to her feet.
"I just needed money.." Ruby muttered.
"So your way getting money is by stealing?" The woman's words stun Ruby. She was stealing and she knew it was wrong, but what else could she do?
"Yes…"
"Why?" She demanded.
Ruby remained silent as she held the wallet out. After a few moments, she finally took the wallet but didn't leave. Ruby expected she wouldn't, being a police officer.
The woman sighed loudly. "Look.. I understand living in the city can be difficult. But you can't go around pickpocketing people. Why are you doing this?" Ruby listened to each word carefully. The woman no longer sounded angry but more concerned.
Taking a deep breath, Ruby took off her hood, revealing her wolf ears. Ruby held her eyes shut, waiting for insults about being a wolf Faunus, but she received none.
Ruby opened an eye and saw only concern spreading across the woman's features.
"So that's why. You're a Wolf Faunus." She scratched her head as she began to think. "What's your name?"
Ruby hesitated for a moment. "R-Ruby." The woman smiled briefly.
"My name's Blake. And I'm sure you looked into that wallet and saw what I am." Ruby nodded. "So you know I can't exactly turn a blind eye to this." Ruby nodded once more.
"Please don't arrest me!" Ruby pleaded. "Wolf Faunus aren't liked by even other Faunuses and I don't know what they'll do to me in jail!" Blake held up her hand.
"I know what would happen, Ruby. I do. I'm not arresting you." Ruby relaxed a little. "But I can't let this go, do you live with anywhere or have any guardians?" Blake asked. Ruby stiffened and shook her head.
"N-No. I was kicked out of the orphanage once I turned fifteen." Ruby said.
Blake hummed in thought before speaking. "How often do you do it?"
"Everyday." Ruby said.
"Where does it all go and how much do you take?" Blake asked.
"N-Not much and it goes to me.. I just need enough for clothes and food.." Ruby wiped her eyes quickly to avoid breaking down.
"Okay." Blake said, after a sort moment of silence. "How old are you now?"
"Eighteen.." Blake raised an eyebrow. She remained silent as she watched the shaking Wolf in front of her.
"Okay. Here's what we're going to do. You are going to come with me." Ruby snapped her head towards Blake in fear.
Seeing the fear, Blake held up both of her hands. "Not to the station, to my apartment. I can't have you roaming the streets stealing from people so I need to figure out what to do with you till then."
Ruby waited a few moments, weighing her options. If she ran now, Blake would only chase her and if she was lucky enough to escape, the police would be on the look out for her. Ruining her only source of income. If she agreed then might be turned in later or might not at all!. Examining each one closing Ruby sighed and nodded to the Officer.
If she chose the run then she would surely be arrested and sent to jail.
Blake smiled. "I promise I'm not going to turn you in. Now come on, my place is actually close by."