The chilly winter wind whipped through Venice like a dragon beating its wings down on its buildings. Scipio walked up to 'The Thief Lord', the new name of Barbarossa's shop. Scipio owned it now and no one could complain because he had the deeds. His last performance as the thief lord was to steal money from his own family. He set it up in a bank account under a new name. His father could never find him now.

Scipio's age was now a blessing. Victor used him to find information that only a child could find out. Or... someone younger than an adult. Scipio was 18 this year. He was glad he hadn't ridden the merry-go-round. Despite all his hoping at the wonders it would bring, Scipio had chickened out. His childishness had won out and he'd opted out at the last minute. The look in Prosper's eyes when he thought Scipio would be riding it even when Prosper himself wouldn't, ... It hit something in Scipio and he just couldn't go through with it.

Barbarossa, however, was not so smart and so he now lived in a boarding school, as happy as a clam. How one could be happy while living with those awful people was a mystery. Scipio bought the shop for a very cheap price and now owned everything within it's walls. He'd sold the junk off quickly and now Scipio's store was known for it's fine clothing and hand crafted objects.

Most of his items were used clothes from Ida and a growing number of patrons. Scipio gave most of them away to poor children. The hand crafted objects were usually things made by Hornet, who had become quite the craftswoman in the last 3 years. Sometimes, you could hardly tell her items weren't real gold, silver, or ruby. Scipio never asked where she got her materials.

Then there was Mosca, who was saving up money to sail around the world. He was already closer to finding his dad than he'd been in years. The police were helping him now. Riccio was on a tight leash by Ida, even though he didn't live with her. She'd pretended to be his mother in order to get him in to a dentist, but after that Riccio and Mosca moved away to a new hideout. Ida was keeping tabs on them because Riccio was known to pickpocket.

Scipio hadn't seen much of them. Everyone seemed so busy. Except Prosper... Prosper found time for everyone. He brought the news about Mosca's search and Riccio's attempted crimes that even Ida didn't know. Prosper helped Mosca paint his boat, Hornet make Scipio's products and Hornet's medicines, helped Riccio clean up their hideout and try to stop stealing. Prosper helped Bo with his homework, even when he had too much of it on his own.

He helped Victor with his turtles. Propser was becoming the perfect husband by helping Ida clean and cook. Half the time, you couldn't tell if Ida was cooking the food you were eating or Prosper. Despite everything Prosper needed to do for himself, he helped everyone else out first. Scipio tried to deny his help but Prosper even wiggled his way into helping Scipio sell products and keep record of all the money earned. He ran the whole store when Scipio was sick.

Scipio couldn't remember how many times he'd walk through Ida's halls and find Prosper still doing homework or finishing a book. More than a few times, Scipio found Prosper asleep on his books and not quite finished with his work. Scipio was now a pro at forging Prosper's handwriting to the point that not even Prosper could tell his last four problems were done by someone else.

Scipio felt bad that he seemed to be drifting away from some of his friends and yet Prosper found time to do... everything.

When Scipio entered the shop that morning, Prosper was sleeping, head on the counter. Scipio smiled and shook him lightly.

"Prop, wake up." he laughed lightly. Prosper groaned but sat up, wiping his mouth of any possible drool. There was none. "I swear... I don't know who's the thief lord. Me or you. How did you get in? I locked the door this time and I took the spare key home with me."

Prosper stretched and smiled at the same time.

"It's a secret." he replied when he was done stretching. He yawned and tried to lay his head back down but Scipio caught it with his hand.

"Nuh-huh. Time for you to get up. It may be the weekend for you, but you're in my shop now. Time to work." Scipio didn't let Prosper know how much he disliked watching him strain himself to help everyone. Personally, he'd let Prosper sleep all day... but he had to act like he wasn't worried.

Prosper nodded. He had to work, or get out of Scipio's way so he could work. Scipio watched Prosper gather himself and run his fingers through his constantly messy, curly brown hair. Scipio could watch him for hours... setting up the shop and cleaning the shelves. Prosper was amazing.

Scipio had decided Prosper was the bravest... strongest person he knew. Even when he was petrified, lost in Venice, Prosper didn't show his weaknesses. When he was afraid of getting shot, Prosper admitted it and continued on regardless, gaining bravery as he went. Prosper never seemed too afraid of doing something. He could do anything. Perhaps the only thing he feared and showed fear about was losing his brother again.

Prosper sniffled a little and Scipio raised an eyebrow.

"Are you coming down with a cold, Prop?" he asked.

"Nah. Just thought I was gonna sneeze," Prosper replied, not making eye contact and wiping his mouth in that way he always did when he was nervous about something. Scipio wanted to know what was up but he didn't want to force Prosper into telling him either.

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Onee-chan 1: I hope you enjoyed the prolog. The next chapter jumps so be prepared. This was just to set up where we were, now the real story starts.