Disclaimer: I own nothing.

'You can run away from yourself so often, and so much, just because the broken pieces of you cut your feet too deeply if you stay around for too long. But then what if someone were to come along and pick up those pieces for you? Then you wouldn't have to run away from yourself anymore. You could stop running. If someone sees you as something worth staying with - maybe you'll stay with yourself too.'

-C. JoyBell C.

Creed.

My stomach rumbled. My pockets had holes in them and my wallet had been stolen so long ago that I didn't remember all that was in it. Actually, I didn't even remember what state it gotten lost in. I'd gotten a new ID whenever I had the chance, but they never stayed with me too long anyway. Maybe there was a picture of my parents? Oh well.

Another low growl reminded me that I hadn't eaten in three days. Great. It really was too bad that humans needed sustenance, lest they pass out or turn into bones before dying altogether. That's profoundly morose. Idiot.

Pushing my hair out of my eyes, I let out a fatigue-laced yawn and then I scanned the bustling people of the familiar street I'd found myself on. Okay. Who am I looking for? Slipping off the short sidewall, I then pulled my hood over my head and slunk into the alleyway beside me. I may not have had that much energy at the moment, but the thrill I usually got before I acted began pulsating through me while I jogged down the ally to the opposite street.

This street seemed like I'd stepped into a whole other world, seeing as the homes there were more rundown than the ones I'd just left. The Docks. It was ghetto, but it had been my home for more than a few years and since I knew it like the back of my hand, I knew exactly who I was looking for.

Adrenaline pumped through my veins and I wasted no time in picking up speed. My target was locked. Those gold chains and handle snapped into my hand so quickly, it took the girl by total surprise. I heard her scream "HEY!" But I easily ignored it and ran as fast as I could, narrowly dodging an oncoming car before continuing on to a stupid dead end.

The jig is up. My eyes beheld the high, nearly intimidating gate and I did an instant calculation while the two caught up to me. Their breathing was a little more heavy than mine, but from the way they looked, I supposed they didn't really know how to handle themselves. Girly. Prissy. Somewhere along those lines. Like you're better off.

"Give us the purse and we won't press any charges."

The one that spoke in a delicious commanding tone had this incredible flaming hair that looked like it could burn someone with a single wave. Her eyes were piercing, like they could see straight through me and even from where we stood, I could see clear dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Her body was just...fuller. Well, fuller than mine, at least. What with those womanly curves barely hidden by her long green coat, the heels she was wearing. Not much else was visible, yet it wasn't hard to come to the conclusion that she was, indeed, very pretty. The other one was around the same height and build, but looked like she'd gotten in a fight with a piece of glass and the glass won by chopping her hair off. Brunette, with what looked like green colored eyes. (I only say that because they were wide and innocent rather than the redhead's, who's were glaring at me.)

Bet you have nice eyes too. I thought with a smirk directed at them both, and then her as an individual. Without another word, I sprung back into action and ran for the corner of the gate to where a few plywood boards had been carelessly stacked. The first step had me propelling upward as my hand reached the top of the bars. Using my momentum, I stealthily ran up the rest of the boards and vaulted over until I landed gracefully on the other side. The boards clattered to the pavement and I turned around to catch one more glance at the redhead before sprinting off down the street.

I won't be hungry tonight!

Bancroft.

Too bad I wasn't alone because it took all I had to not chase that girl down.

Lunch time had been what provoked the two of us out of hiding. Well, it was a good a time as any to get my overworked buddy out of the office she was always cooped up in. Had I known that we were going to get targeted by a sneaky little purse-snatcher, I would have suggested we strolled down some other street for fresh air. Alas, the girl had taken us off-guard and had easily gotten away. For now.

"Yeah, you're right, Punz." I let out a breathless chuckle, trying to appear as winded as she was after our block and a half chase. "I feel all kinds of lucky." We'd just been talking about how my cousin's firm gave low-income people access to the legal system and about how this one other girl had gotten out of some serious jail time thanks to her. I hadn't been so useful in helping people lately, but chose to keep that to myself.

While my cousin been going on about how lucky I was for getting back home just a few weeks ago was when the girl in white struck.

"H-how did she even do that?" Rapunzel asked like she couldn't believe what had just gone down scant moments ago. Like she'd forgotten that her purse was stolen. Oy.

"Probably does crazy squats." I shrugged, eventually walking forward when something caught my eye. It seemed to be a chain from the pants she was wearing. They were black and a little baggy and judging from the what she ran off with, was it safe to say that they weren't even her pants? Huh. "There's this, if anything." Pulling it off the gate, I turned to toss it back to my cousin, who snorted.

"Great. Now what?" Green eyes blinked in confusion as she held up the only piece of evidence we had.

"You're just-" I rolled my own eyes and snatched the chain from her. "I'll handle it while you get back to defending innocent people."

"Yeah!" She chirped in agreement. "Maybe you'll have better luck than me with tracking it."

"Don't mention that stupid word again." I waved her away and then turned one last time to peer down the closed off street like the mysterious girl in white would be there. Nothing.

Those eyes. She was kinda pretty, though.