Authors Note: I do not own Sly Cooper, he belongs to Sucker Punch. Also, while I am aware I am not following the ending of Sly 3, I really don't care. So deal with it.


A Thief's Tale

Chapter 1: The Right Decision?

Sly ran across the rooftops. Close behind, firing off her signature shock pistol, the beautiful Inspector Carmelita Fox. In just a few more blocks, Sly would find himself above the street where the van was waiting. It didn't take him long to reach the rendezvous point. Seeing the van on the street, he turned to make one last comment to the lovely vixen. What he saw made his blood run cold and body freeze. Carmelita was there, shock pistol ready, but it was what was behind her. A shadowy figure armed with a .50 caliber desert eagle, and it was pointed, at point blank range, at the back of Carmelita's head.

"Any last words before I take you in Ringtail?" Carmelita asked. Sly tried to warn her about the mysterious gunman, but nothing came out. With a loud bang, the bullet of the gun pierced Carmelita's skull. She collapsed, dead.

"You could have saved her." The shadowy figure said in a low, echolike, voice before disappearing into smoke.

"Carmelita." Sly said shocked running over to his fallen love's side. Rain burst from the sky as if a giant bucket was overturned. Sly turned to the sky and yelled with all of his voice, "NOOOOOOOOO!"

That's when Sly shot awake in his bed, panting heavily. Taking a look around, he placed his face in his hands. It was just that dream again Sly. It was just the dream. He thought to himself. The dream haunted him every night ever since he left his amnesia life behind. He wanted to be with Carmelita so much that he faked amnesia. Everything was going great; they even got an apartment together. How foolish he was thinking he could turn his back on his true calling. So one night, after Carmelita went to sleep, he wrote her a note on the back of one of his signature calling cards. It read:

Carmelita: I'm sorry it had to come to this. The truth is I've been lying to you. I never lost my memory. But I thought, if the problem of our professions was removed, we could have a future together. But I could never leave my old life behind. Just know this, the time we had together was completely real. –Sly

When he finished the note, he placed it next to her bed, and disappeared into the night. That was roughly three months ago. It was easy to find the newest safe house. He was actually surprised that everyone, Bentley, Murray, Guru, Penelope, Panda King, and Dimitri, was there. Lost in thought, he didn't even hear Bentley enter.

"Sly?" Bentley asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Sly said suddenly noticing the turtle.

"Are you sure?" Bentley asked, "I heard you panting, you had the dream again didn't you?"

"I honestly don't know why I keep having it." Sly said, "It must mean something."

"I'm not sure what it could mean Sly." Bentley responded, "I'm sure it wasn't an easy choice for you to make, but if it's any consolation, we're glad to have you back."

"Thanks buddy." Sly said, "I think I'm going out for a while, maybe the night air will clear my head."

"Just promise me one thing," Bentley said, "No matter what, if you see Carmelita, I want you to STAY AWAY from her. She's probably hurting just as much as you are. And with her temper."

"I know it would probably be best to avoid her. At least for a little while longer." Sly said grinning at his own joke.

"Sly! This is serious!" Bentley said, "If she spots you, she'll probably kill you!"

"Just relax Bentley." Sly said heading for the window, "You know I know how to stay hidden." And with that, Sly leapt from the window using his cane to grab the rain gutter of a neighboring building.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Paris…

Inspector Carmelita Fox returned to her apartment. Ever since Sly decided to leave that night and return to thieving, everyday was hell. Every day she could feel the stares of her coworkers. Their taunts where just as equally unnerving. 'Hey look, that's the girl who gave herself to Sly Cooper.' 'What kind of cop would get a place with that criminal?' 'She's always talking about bringing him in. And when she had the chance, she got him a job here and started dating him.' 'Looks like Carmelita is all bark and no bite.' Was just a few of the ridicules she would hear. What was I thinking? Deep down, I knew Sly would get his memory back. So why did I even start that lie to begin with? I just thought we could have a life with each other. But obviously lied in that note just so he would have the leverage of my emotions. By making me think that he actually cared for me, he could just bring up what happened and get away. That's when she began to break down in tears. She would never tell anyone, there was not a single soul on earth she could trust with this, but she loved Sly.

"Get a grip Carmelita." She said to herself, "He's a criminal. That's all he'll ever be. He's incapable of caring for anyone. You can't let your emotions get in your way, from now on; you put your job first!" But the back of her mind was arguing. You don't mean that. You still wish you could be with Sly. Just think what your parents would say if they knew you were giving up on someone you loved so easily. "My dad would appreciate me trying to bring him to justice." But what about your mom? "She'd…I don't know what she'd think." Exactly. You view crime as black and white. So who better than a grey raccoon to change that? Unable to hold it back anymore, Carmelita cupped her face in her hands and began bawling uncontrollably.

On the Paris rooftops…

Sly gazed up at the bright moon. He always felt the moon reminded him of Carmelita. Gazing up at the moon recently always made him think the same question lately, was it the right decision?