A/n: Hi! Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Tangled

Rayne walked hastily through the city streets, her dark cloak helping her blend into the night. Most of the city slept and it was silent. She turned onto another street on which a bustling bar poured light through its windows onto the cobblestones, and drunken shouts and loud music disturbed the night quiet. She slowed down as she approached and entered. The eighteen year old let the hood of her cloak fall, causing several men to stare hungrily. Taking in her surrounding, she immediately spotted her prey at the bar. And he had definitely spotted her. His face was flushed from drinking, he was more finely dressed than others, and perhaps in his late twenties. Probably some merchant. A smirk appeared when she came to stand next to him at the bar. She had a pretty good idea at what he was smirking. Was it her luscious lips, tanned skin, dark eyes and pretty face framed by soft locks? More likely it was the plunging neck line of her tight-fitting dress.

"Can I buy you a drink?" he asked.

"Actually," she replied, leaning closer, "I was hoping you'd buy a little something… more." She whispered in his ear seductively. "If you know what I mean."

He eyed her eagerly, "Anything you would like." She could smell the overpowering smell of whiskey on his breath, and with one last alluring smile she had him wrapped around her finger. With her hips swishing, she sauntered out of the bar; the man's footsteps close behind. Once they were out she took one more glance behind her to make sure he was following her, and continued walking down the street. Abruptly, she ducked into the alley, staying close to the wall, and drew her dragger from her sleeve. When the man came around the corner she surprised him and hit him in the back of the skull with the hilt of her dagger. He fell to the ground, out cold, and she commenced to search through his pockets. She quickly found his money bag laden with coins, and pried a few rings off his fingers. Most people would think he had passed out, drunk. And he would be too embarrassed to admit that he'd been mugged by a girl. She just left him there. Men were all the same to her. Scum like these were the reason she was out on the streets stealing for a living. Men would never change.
She diverted her mind off the subject, and instead to the cool night air as she trekked to her hideout on the outskirts of town. It wasn't much; just an old house where a tree had fallen, killing the man that lived there. Only half of the building was destroyed; the rest was quite livable. The tree had crushed the door and the stairs, so the only entrance was through a window on the second story. She skillfully scaled the wall, and looked around the room. She wouldn't call it home, for she didn't need or want one. No, it was just a place where she spent the night and stowed her… income.

Her stomach growled, reminding her that the boy wasn't back yet, which was strange. Usually, he was back before she was. Not that she was concerned; he could handle himself well for a sixteen year old. But he was cocky, he had taken into carving that name he had made for himself from everywhere he stole. Flynn Rider. The most notorious thief in the town of Darret. Ha! All that boy stole was food and occasionally other supplies and some petty change. Rayne did the real work, but she was more discreet, which set her apart from her accomplice. Most bakers wouldn't notice a loaf of bread missing, but he had to boast that he was able to and carve his name. One day that could get them into trouble.

Just then, Flynn himself appeared in the window with bread and cheese.

"What took you so long?" She demanded.

"Store owner thought he was smart and put a new lock on the door. It just took me a little longer to figure out, that's all. And I carved my name even bigger than last time. Let's see how well he hides that." He smirked and crossed his arms confidently. Rayne wasn't impressed. Seeing her lack of interest, he changed the subject. "Why won't you let me steal in the daytime? It's no fun just picking locks and practically waltzing into stores. Where's the challenge?"

"The challenge?" she mocked. "In making sure you don't do anything stupid. If you steal something, you can be tracked back here. People will recognize your face. Wanted posters will spring up. I'll be linked to you. I want all of this to remain a secret. Being infamous only leads to the hangman's noose. That's why I do everything to keep our operation a secret."

"Flynn." The boy's groggy mind registered that she was saying his name. She hardly ever used his name usually it was just 'kid' or 'you,' but when she said it like that… "Flynn wake up!" She hissed, and there went his illusion. He sat up and stared at Rayne.

"Today's the day. Remember?"

"Yes, the King is parading into town to celebrate his victory over Weslern."

"Right. And we are going to…?"

"Pay a visit to the Count's house while everyone's at the parade."
"Correct." She smiled slyly at him. Grinning back, he leapt up and followed her.

That day the town had transformed. Everything had been cleaned until it shone, at least on the main street. You would almost think that Darret was a nice place to live, if you were only going into the main square.

Flynn and Rayne easily blended in with the crowd. Soon a boy came running through, shouting, "They're coming! They're coming!" People began to press around the square, and Flynn and Rayne stayed in the back. Flynn spotted the Count and Countess standing at the end of the square puffed up like peacocks, no doubt trying to win some money from the King. On the outskirts of Corona, it wasn't often the people were able to see the monarch, and Flynn arched his neck in curiosity, to see if the King was in sight yet.

"Ah come on." Rayne dragged Flynn away by the arm. The front of the Count's house faced the Square, but the back just led into an alleyway. It was there that Rayne stopped him. "Ok, so all the servants will be in the rooms facing the square, but the window of the Countess's rooms is right there." She gestured to the open window right above them. "Now, give me a boost."

Flynn complied; making a foothold with his hands. "How did you know the window was going to be open?"

"The maid always leaves it open." Came the cryptic reply as she reached for the window ledge and disappeared into the house. With nothing left to do but wait, Flynn leaned against the wall and whistled. A minute later, an angry maid's yell came from above, followed by Rayne jumping out of the window and breaking her fall with a roll. "Run!" she hissed. Flynn didn't need to be told twice. He took off, with Rayne following close behind. "This is far enough." Rayne gasped. They stopped to catch their breath. "What did you get?" he asked.

"I'll show you later. There's more to get out of the King's visit yet." They blended back into the crowd at the square. The King stood in front of the town giving a speech. Flynn tried to listen, but Rayne prodded him in the back. "Do your work." She whispered to him. Sighing, he went about pick pocketing the unaware crowd as they listened to the King's speech. When the King finished, the crowd began to thin, and Flynn lingered on the edge of the square, watching the king. The thief thought to himself that the King needed to be congratulated for the skill in which he shook off the greedy Count and Countess of Darret. Then he witnessed the King turn to a group of urchins and give them a copper piece each. Flynn smiled as he saw their faces light up. Then, Rayne materialized beside him. He turned to go in the direction of the hideout, but Rayne placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "Look."

Flynn turned around to see the generous King place coins in an old blind beggar's cup. The beggar, moved with gratitude, fell at the King's feet, but the King just picked him up and gave him a pat on shoulder. The blind man, grinning from ear to ear, ducked back into his alleyway. Rayne followed after him, a cold hearted glint in her eyes. Flynn's heart sunk as he realized her intentions. "Let's go back. This is wrong Rayne."

"Oh, well that's rich coming from a thief. 'It's not right, it's not fair.' Well here's wake-up call for you, kid: life isn't fair. Don't you see the 10 gold crowns! It's worth it." And just like that she continued down the alleyway. Flynn did nothing to stop her. What could he do? He watched helplessly as she walked up to the blind man, dipped her hand into his cup to withdraw the gold, and walked away. The man, realizing what had happened, reached his hand into his cup, and felt nothing. He shook the cup, but heard nothing. His look of confusion went to one of despair, and his blind eyes stared straight ahead, expressive as any. The old man didn't shout or yell; just sat there, looking as if his world had ended. Flynn couldn't take it anymore, and turned away from the man's suffering.

Flynn had thought long and hard about it on the walk back, and made up his mind.

"Rayne that was wrong. I'm- I'm not working with you anymore. I'm leaving."

"What was that Flynn, dear? I couldn't hear you."

"I'm leaving." he said, firmer than he felt. His thoughts whirled. Where would he go?

"Oh, are you now?" She whirled around and crossed the room and stood very, very close to him. He took a step back, and she took another forward, and kept forcing him back until he was in a corner. "Come on Flynn," she crooned. He couldn't help but notice her beauty, her closeness, and the curves of her body. "Flynn." She whispered in his ear, now pressing herself to him. "I know how you look at me. I know what you're thinking. Come on, be a man. Take me. Steal me, Flynn. You're good at that. I'm all yours."

"I-I-I don't-" Then she kissed him. She placed her hands on his chest, and they found their way to the buttons on his shirt. And then he was kissing her back. She ran her fingers through his hair, and he ran his down her body. He snapped out of it when she reached for his belt buckle. "No, I don't think I want this."
"Relax, Flynn, it's only one night. You don't want to leave." She was unfastening his pants now. And he couldn't form the thought to tell her no, or a good reason. She was slipping off her dress.

"You want to be rich. I can help you. We will have our own island, and we'll rule it together." She knocked him to the ground, and was on top of him. "Just you and me, Flynn. Forever." How was she doing this to him? He hated her, for what she'd done, but another part of him wanted her so bad, and it seemed block out the other part. He shut off his mind as his body gave in to hers.

Flynn was walking through the streets at dusk looking for maybe a merchant to pickpocket. He wrapped his arms around him, as the chilly breeze made him shiver. Winter was defiantly here. The past few nights had been freezing, and soon it would start to snow. It was a week since he and Rayne had slept together, but they hadn't since. He was ashamed of it, but wasn't looking at going off on his own anytime soon. Until, perhaps by fate, he turned the corner and tripped over a body. Flynn turned the limp body over and was horrified to realize that it was the old blind man Rayne had stolen from. No, not Rayne, us. I could've stopped it. I could've given him some money back. But I didn't, I just let her. And now I've condemned an innocent man to death. This is all my fault.

By now the sun had set had set, and Flynn went looking for a shovel to bury the man with. He carried the body into the forest. It was light, all skin and bones from malnutrition. He dug the grave, heavy with guilt, and buried the man. Then, feeling compelled to say some words over the man, he placed a hand over the grave and said, "May you see the light." It was the best he could think of.

Flynn realized that he didn't even know the man's name. He doubted anyone in town did. Was this how he would die? Alone, nobody caring? He probably didn't have a family, or any friends. A hanging would be preferable to this end. Not slowly withering away. Just a quick drop, and then it was over. Flynn Rider sat by the grave all night, just thinking. He returned to the hideout at dawn, resolved.

"Where were you?" demanded Rayne.

"That's none of your concern, and it won't be from now on. I'm leaving, for real this time."

"Now Flynn, come on, be serious." She sauntered forward trying the same trick as last time.

"No Rayne! Not this time, nor ever again!" He was beginning to see who she truly was. He shoved her away in disgust. After seeing the cold look in his eye, she backed away.

"Fine then, I see how it is. But now our loot is mine. Well… here." she tossed him a bag of silver that was just a small fraction of what they had. "Only because I'm generous." Flynn took it, bundled up his few belongings, and turned towards the window. "You'll regret leaving, Flynn Rider."
"No, leaving is the only thing I won't regret." And with that he scaled down the wall.

He strolled into the morning market place and walked right into the tailor's shop. It was time for some new clothes. The tailor was happy to help him find some. When he was done, Flynn looked into the mirror on one of the walls. The clothes were nice, and he looked well in them. The boots were sturdy and would last a while. He walked over to the counter to pay for them.

"You have very good taste, sir. I haven't seen you around before, may I ask what your name is?" asked the tailor.

"Well, thank you. And the name's Flynn Rider." With that Flynn reached and stole all the money from the coin box and took off sprinting down the street. The store owner ran out, yelling: "RIDER!"

The baker heard it, and put together that this was the boy who had been stealing from him. He and his fellow merchants began their chase. Soon, the whole marketplace was in chaos. Flynn Rider soon made it to the woods, unscathed, and ready to shake the town, free of his old accomplice. And the town was left to spread the word of the notorious Flynn Rider.

A/N: Hope you like it so far. I can promise that the plot will thicken in the next chapater. Please reveiw! Reviews are better than oreos!

~LC