Disclaimer: I don't own any Sly Cooper characters; they belong to Sucker Punch Productions.
Claimer: I own all of my original characters.
Well here's chapter 1! I don't plan on making this story as long as my last one but it'll be longer than 12 chapters so this won't end soon. And this is somewhat a sequel to Reunited. The story lines don't match but I'll make more sense to read that first before this. And like the last story the points of view will change but not as often, maybe 5 or 6 times and that's only because there are chapter that would make sense in that point of view but it'll be obvious who the narrator is. And this chapter is long but unfortunately they won't all be this long…but anyway, please read and review and let me know what you think!
Alone in the World
Chapter 1: Empty Promises
Empty promises, my life is always filled with empty promises. No matter how hard I tried, I always managed to get involved with people who fill my head with promises that have no meaning behind them whatsoever. I sighed as I made this realization and flung my tail over the side of the building I was sitting on. I was perched on top of the building across from the Paris opera house, which was filled with people and music. It was annual that on the first day of December and until the January second, there was a party every night at the opera house to get ready for the holidays and then actually celebrate for the holidays. It was opening night and I was in no mood to try and cheer myself in that overcrowded party room. I cracked my back as I shifted in the in the half circle architectural design on the building. It was small enough for me to have my feet pressed flat against the opposite side while I was forced to rest my knees on my chest. I wiped my nose on the sleeve of my sweater before wrapping my arms around my knees and resting my head on my arms. I stared at the east balcony of the opera house, waiting to see if the rumors were true.
A little over three months ago Sly left to go call in a favor from one of their resources then go open something in Sly's family called 'The Cooper Vault' then come back to Paris. I talked to him the night before he left and he told me that he needed to talk to me after everything with the vault job was done. He said it was important and strictly between the two of us but he said he wanted to talk after the stress of his heist was over. Along with that, he said he had feelings for me that night. Granted it wasn't 'I love you' but it was pretty close. He told me that he had more feelings for me than my twin sister, but there were rumors that he was exclusively seeing her and he had even put down his cane and picked up and Interpol badge. If this was true, then he had broken three things. One was my trust since he said he had no romantic feelings towards Carmelita at all, two would be the face he crushed all feelings I had for him, and three was the Thief's Code. Every thief in the world, from petty to master, had to take the Thief's Code of Honor before stealing anything and rule number one was never, ever, become a cop.
I shivered as cold winter air blew through my fur. Even if it was cold, I was determined to find the truth behind these rumors before going home. I lifted my head and focused my vision on the balcony when I noticed two figures walk out into the nighttime air. And sure enough, it was Cooper and my sister. Even though I knew it was all true now, I still doubted it in my mind even as he grabbed her paws in his own and started talking. I was no lip reader and I couldn't hear them but I could piece together a base of a conversation but my sister's body language. She was normally a hard faced police woman but now she was giggling like a school girl and I could swear she was blushing. He was probably telling her that he had strong feelings for her and that she was an amazing woman of some other crap like that. I watched as they smiled at each other and she was pulled towards his chest. I shook my head at the sight and still doubted myself even though I knew the truth.
"Jealousy and hurt are two hard pills to swallow, Ramona." I rolled my eyes at the all too familiar voice and I glanced up to my visitor.
"You of all people should know what that feels like, don't you, Erik?" he nodded with smirk spread across his muzzle. Erik was a person I had come into contact with numerous times over the past few years. The raccoon was a thief like myself and was even and ex-boyfriend of mine, well, an ex-fiancé if one wanted to be technical and proper. I couldn't deny it; he was a good looking man, a very good looking man, but with one exception on his face I could always overlook. He just had this tendency to be controlling at times; something I never found appealing in anyone.
"Indeed I do," he said as he leaned against the edge of the building near my feet, "However, I wasn't in denial like yourself." I scoffed at his comment.
"I'm not in denial, Erik. You just need to keep your nose out of other peoples' business." He dryly chuckled and shook his head.
"My dear," he mused, "When you live where I do, everyone's business is my business. I could tell you a few things about that man you have your eye on." He used his head to motion towards Sly. I briefly glanced to the ex-thief and watched as he smooth talked my sister. I rolled my eyes to meet Erik's and continued.
"How do I know this isn't a scam to get me to go crawling back to you?" I was the one who had ended our engagement and since then I'd been living with thoughts of him showing back up.
"Well, before I tell you anything you can always see for yourself," my eyebrows knitted together in confusion and he pointed towards the balcony with the fox and raccoon. I followed his finger and I felt like someone had shot me in the chest when I looked at the sight before me. Not even three months ago, I was the one he was holding close to his chest to give a kiss to but now, clear as day, he had his lying lips pressed against hers and my sister had moved in; just like she always did. I sighed and closed my eyes at the sight, not wanting to look at it anymore. I turned my head back towards my ex and opened my eyes.
"What do you know?" I asked softly. He sighed himself and briefly looked to the ground in an attempt to look apologetic.
"Like I said before," he said quietly, "Where I live, I hear many different things, but I'll start with things you know you're denying. To begin, when he went off for those few months, who followed him while you stayed here in hopes of him coming back to love you?"
"Carmelita." I muttered. I looked down and started picking at my fingernails. A habit I had picked up as a child when my father questioned me after I had done something wrong or needed to realize something.
"Exactly, now you know he uses pet names with the both of you, right?" I nodded, "But you know just as well as I do he only has one for you and numerous ones for her. In fact, I know you've heard him call your sister 'pretty lady'. If he loved you, would he do that?"
"I guess not," I mumbled softly. I heard him crouch beside my head and I only had to glance to my left to meet his gaze. He was close enough to where I could smell his cologne, a scent that always sent shivers down my spine.
"Now answer this," he continued, "Has he ever thanked you for getting him out of trouble?" I shook my head and he hummed briefly.
"That's what I thought," I let him gently stroke the top of my paw while he kept asking questions, "Now I know you were kidnapped a few months ago, and so did Cooper…eventually. Do you know who he noticed was gone first?"
"My sister?" he nodded and released my paw.
"If he loved you, don't you think he would have told you by now? I'm not talking about strong feelings; I'm talking about those three words every woman wants to hear. I. Love. You." He spelled it out for me and I shook my head.
"If he wasn't self centered like I think he is, why is he the leader in the Cooper Gang? You and your brother and sister have been stealing just as long as they have and you don't have a team name. It's just the three of you with no title and yet your one of the top thieving gangs. Think about that." He was right, we'd been stealing things longer than they have and we don't want a team name.
"You were in a slump last year, but instead of helping you like anyone would have done, he helped plan his own heists to try and bump you from the top. In fact, when you were kidnapped a few months ago he wasn't even planning on saving you! He was going to steal things and eliminate you from the competition. It wasn't until your sister turned up missing that he got involved."
"Really?" I asked I figured that he had come to get us out of that because we were all missing; not just Carmelita.
"Oh yes," he nodded and tucked my nags behind my ears, showing off the left side of my face, "And like I've said before, I hear a lot of things where I live. But I heard him tell his turtle friend that he didn't love you or even have feelings for you. He only told you that to keep him on his side and under his thumb while he climbed to the top of the thieving ladder. He told his friends that you were nothing to him and that you were worthless and he was only using you. I heard him tell his friends that he didn't love you. He said that he would never love you and that you'd have to be the last woman on Earth for you to even have a chance with him."
"What?" I was feeling a combination of things. I was in disbelief that Sly would ever say that, but I found myself believing what Erik told me. I was crushed; I thought he was one man who loved me, but I was wrong. I was also enraged that he had gone for my sister, the one person who always had to steal happiness from me.
"I know, it's hard, but you need to know. He also said that your sister was smarter and prettier than you were." I shook my head but he nodded. He gently turned my face to face him and I allowed him.
"Now, you know I would never lie to you or make you want to feel bad, but there's more."
"Tell me, Erik, everything. I need to know." He sighed and continued.
"Ramona, he leads you on all the time so you won't be major competition and turn him into the cops. He doesn't love you and I think you know that, deep down you know that."
"No, that can't be true." He nodded and kept talking.
"But it is and you know that you and your sister aren't the only women he flirts with. You remember that Constable that your sister had as a partner a little over a year ago? She tried to kill him and he still flirted with her. He even asked her out on a date with dinner and dancing. Has he ever invited you to something like that?" I shook my head. It was true, we'd known each other forever but he had never asked me to go out anywhere besides a cup of coffee, but we always talked about plans when we did.
"He doesn't respect you, Ramona. He's called you a sneak so many times that I've lost count. If he loved you like you hope he does, would he call you that? He's told your sister that she was an absolutely amazing woman…has he ever told you that? For all the times he's kissed you, has he ever said that he's loved you? If he respected you and loved you like you think he does, then he would have told you a long time ago." I sighed and wiped my nose on my sleeve again.
"And here's another thing. He went to some random island and inherited money from all of his ancestors. A true thief doesn't collect, they earn. You of all people should know that my love." He winked quickly and I nuzzled my nose back on my arms. "And he's a snooper, my dear. The last time we talked, I left a note at your house. I poured my heart into that note and I know you, you would have talked to me but you never did. Did you ever get that note?" I shook my head.
"No, no I never got it." He nodded, "Are you saying he took it?" Erik nodded and cocked his head to the side. Half of his face was covered by the sudden shadows and I looked over his features that were visible. He was muscular but wasn't a body builder, but wasn't scrawny either. His fur was always clean, shining, and well groomed. He was never one to base things on looks but he was adamant about keeping clean, which I was glad he did so.
"Could you ever picture yourself with him, anyway?" I shook my head, "You know, I don't want to make this harder for you, but when I heard him say he was going to inherit his family's things and your sister was following…I knew they'd end up together. They flirt more than you think and I think that kiss just proved it. But," he said and I could see mischief in his eyes, "You know I would never do that to you. I would love you unconditionally. I know that what I've done in the past was wrong but I've changed. But, if you join me and become my thieving counterpart, I'd treat you like you were royalty. You'd be a queen and this entire city would be your kingdom. I'd let you know you were important and not just another woman. I'd never do anything to harm you or put you in danger like he does. I'd never take advantage of you, I'd let you know everyday that you were special, one of a kind, beautiful, smart, funny, and that you are an amazing thief. Ramona, my dear, join me and be my partner. We could do great things together and we wouldn't have to worry about those two." He pointed to my sister and Sly. His finger went in front of my nose and I caught another whiff of his cologne and I couldn't help but shiver. There was just something about that smell that intrigued me and attracted me to him.
I knew I still had feelings for Sly, but it was obvious that I had no chance with that two faced raccoon. I knew I didn't have feelings for Erik anymore…or did I? I'm the one who broke everything off with him, I'm the one who didn't want to be with him, but I was starting to feel attracted to him again. There was something about the way he talked, the way he moved, the way he smelled, they way he acted, the way he treated me that made me know that he was everything I wanted in a partner. He was a gentleman, he had manners, he was a strong believer in chivalry, he didn't flirt with every woman that passed by him. But he was so controlling that I couldn't be free with certain things. But then again, there was only one other person I've felt this way around and he was across the street and kissing my sister. Also, he said he had changed for the better. He would be the perfect man if he could get over being controlling. I had already forgiven him for the things he's done and I could possibly give him another chance; even though we've already tried twice to work things out.
"So," he asked after a moment of silence, "what'd you say? Will you join me in thieving and be my partner? You know just as well as I do that I'd treat you like a queen and respect you, my dear. And if it makes you feel better, I know you're brother and sister are starting to slow down on thieving but if they wanted to join us, they could." I shrugged and got up from my seat.
"I'll think about it." I mumbled before walking past my ex and heading for the side of the building. I stretched quickly before heading down the fire escape.
"Where are you going?" he asked after I was halfway to the ground.
"I need to go steal something!" I retorted back. I needed something to take my mind off of things and stealing something always did the trick; or at least it normally did. My feet landed on the ground with a thud and I headed for the local museum to steal something random, probably a gem or a figurine from something or another B.C. With most of Interpol at the part at the opera house tonight, it'd be easier to sneak away without getting chased, which I wasn't in the mood for. I didn't know if everything Erik had said was true but I wasn't in the mood to dwell on the situation anymore. I was already in a bad mood because of the rumors, in a worse mood because of seeing that they were true and furious about the supposed things Sly and said against me. I was quickly loosing respect for Sly and my sister while slowly starting to gain more respect for Erik.
