Lifty's POV

It had been three days since the bastard hero kept me in his house. That damn cut on my stomach, I must say, took much longer time to heal than I expected. It was starting to get on my nerves realizing after three days lying like a dead meat in bed, I still couldn't walk properly. I wondered if Splendid did stitch my wound appropriately for as far as I knew, I felt like getting a serious infection. I curled up my shirt and examined the gash. Geez, it was gruesome but nope, no signs of infection yet. Perhaps it was just me being paranoid. Honestly, I still had no idea why he would bother to save me. I kept presuming there was more behind his seemingly kind act, like I was thinking the pain killers he gave me might have been some lethal drugs and the food he fed me could be poisonous. But again, it would sound a bit absurd as nothing bad had happened to me. Not yet. Maybe later? I didn't know.

Right, it was the fourth day I was…

Should I say being captured or held hostage?

Ha, either way, it did not appeal to me. I stretched out my arms and yawned. Gosh, I had slept in again. It was already…like dusk when I woke up. That would mean I skipped breakfast and lunch. Why didn't Splendid wake me? Errr…not that I really cared about breakfast and lunch but I was starving! I sat up and put my palm on my bandaged wound. Damn, it still hurt like hell but at least it had gotten better. Should I thank the hero for sterilizing and washing it every day? Nah… I didn't feel like showing my gratitude yet. It was his choice to take me in. He could have left me dying… He got all the trouble himself. Oh wait…it was too rude to say that. He saved me when I was on the verge of death and when my blood-related good-for-nothing freak brother abandoned me! Crap, speaking of my stupid brother, where had he gone these few days while I was away? He didn't even seem to have looked for me! Great, that's all I needed to know. I should have known better he's nothing but a heartless jerk. He wouldn't even care if I was eaten alive by Splendid, would he? I hated it when I thought of him… If there's one thing I hated most is being his twin. Whenever we parted, there was this odd, dreadful feeling of loneliness. We could barely separate for a week. That's also why despite everything he did to me, I still stuck up for him.

I looked over my bed and it scared the hell out of me when I saw Splendid sleeping beside me. What the fuck?! How long had he been sleeping right next to me? This was getting ridiculous. I poked his arm repeatedly, trying my best to wake him.

Man, this guy has some great muscles in his arms.

Damn, he was a heavy sleeper. No wonder he didn't wake me up for lunch. Maybe he forgot it himself! His eyes twitched a little but did not open. I could have slapped his face but I would probably feel bad doing so. After all, he had been taking care of me for the past few days. I sighed and leaned back against my pillow. I struggled to make myself comfortable but it didn't work. Not when there was a guy lying so close to me. I grunted, hoping he would hear that. I should have known he wouldn't because he clung even closer to my blanket!

"Hey…" I muttered, shaking his shoulders, not too powerfully of course. I hadn't got the strength to shake him with violence. If I had, I surely would have done that.

"Emmmm…Flaky…"

What the hell? Did he just say "Flaky"?

"W-Why…d-don't y-you go…out w-with meeee…?"

I scowled in confusion. So, the shitty hero was talking in his dream! Haha, it was actually rather fascinating. I heard him whisper Flaky's name several times, each time with an increasingly depressing tone. Was he really that in love with Flaky? Meh, I had to admit I had a slight crush on that girl in middle school. She was really adorable, though sort of tomboyish. I didn't go as far as to ask her out or anything because I knew Shifty would laugh at me if he knew I was dating. Yea, that's my brother. He likes teasing me and calling me names. When he caught me flirting with girls, he would mock me, probably wishing I would mess up everything. I could tell he was just jealous sometimes, though he kept denying it. He said we weren't meant for romantic stuff and instead of getting tangled up in love, we should concentrate on stealing. And look what he had gotten me into! Nothing ever turned out right!

"F-Flaky…" My thoughts were cut off when I suddenly feel a squeeze on my hand. Oh my god, Splendid was seizing my hand. No. No. NO! Shit! He kissed it. That is. I had had enough. I smacked his face and kicked him out of bed. He rolled down and fell onto the ground with a crunching sound. Heheee, that was fun.

"Owwww!" He cried in pain as he slowly got back up onto his feet. "That hurts! What's that for?!" He shrieked.

"Look, I ain't your Flaky. Stop kissing my hand, okay?" I said.

Immediately, he blushed and stumbled backwards. His cheeks were now as red as his mask.

Hey! I wonder what he looks like without the mask. Does he also wear a mask while he sleeps at night? I thought to myself.

"S-Sorry. W-What did I say?" Splendid turned away to avoid my taunting eyes.

"Ha, so our hero does get dirty sometimes." I lied. He was utterly embarrassed then. He cowered in one corner with a hand over his mouth. I couldn't help laughing.

"Ughhh…please don't tell anyone about it, Lifty…" Splendid said, his blue eyes sparkling with plea.

"I'll think about it." I said.

"No! Promise me, don't tell anyone about it, especially Flaky!" Splendid said nervously, grabbing the collar of my shirt. Man, his hands were trembling. Did he actually take things so seriously? I chuckled at his silly expression. He didn't even remember what he said himself during a dream, eh?

Now, that's really funny.

"Right right. Just let go of me already." I shoved his hand away. He breathed a sigh of relief and sat back on the chair.

"Good heavens, that saves my life." He said with a faint smile. He had freaked out so badly that he was actually sweating! I couldn't see why he had to get so apprehensive. I was, after all, going to jail. Plus, he didn't really say anything indecent so I got nothing to tell Flaky. Besides, I wouldn't be able to get near her anyway, not with Flippy the psychotic soldier guarding her 24 hours a day.

"Look, why don't you simply ask her out? That will settle everything and you don't even have to dream about kissing her hand!" I said bluntly. Splendid widened his eyes, clearly dumbfounded. "What? I'm just saying my point." I asserted. All at once, he bit his lips and looked down at the ground, fiddling with his fingers anxiously. I had never seen this side of Splendid before. He looked…well…so melancholy and frustrated. It's like the earth had ceases turning. He was often the optimistic and cheerful type. Even after he accidentally killed the ones he was trying to save, he would just shrug and smile as if it was no big deal.

"I did." After what seemed like an eternity, he finally answered. "I did ask her out. More precisely, I've never stopped asking her out!"

What? "I've never stopped asking her out!" That 's like the most anomalous utterance I have ever heard in my life.

"Oh, but you failed."

"Yes! She doesn't really…like me that much. She said I'm too good for her…but again, it's just an excuse. Maybe I don't love her as much as Flippy does." Splendid sighed. "I guess…most good girls do fall for bad guys, right?"

"How am I supposed to know?" I threw the question back at him. He blinked blankly at me.

Ugh, what is this feeling that keeps stinging my heart? I can't actually sympathize with him, can I? The hero's love affair is the last thing I am interested in.

"You're right. You won't understand anyway. I've never seen you date a girl." Splendid sneered. Alright, that actually pissed me off!

"I understand you." I pouted.

"You do?"

"Yea. Like you love someone but that someone doesn't love you back just as much. You're constantly being taken for granted but you'll still go for it. You don't mind being used and tossed away like a piece of trash. You dream about that person every day and night wondering if your feeling can ever be returned. That is what you're trying to say, right?"

"W-Well…" Splendid stared at me in astonishment.

Did I surprise him that much? I swear I actually know more things about love than he does, if you ask me. To start off, it's not true that I have never dated. I did back in high school. Once or twice. Secondly, with a family member like Shifty always hanging around you, you just can't stop loving and loathing a person at the same time. Holy shit, what am I saying? Does that mean I love Shifty? Yea right, brotherly love maybe. I do dream of him occasionally. Every time I die and wake up in the hospital the next day, I always hope the very first person to greet me is Shifty. And yes, he is always the first thing I see. He is either sitting at the bedside looking at me with guilty eyes or lying on the bed next to mine. I have got so accustomed to him always bossing around and abusing me that I don't even care if he still loves me as his brother or not. It's hard, you know, to not give up on someone who never stops backstabbing you but coming back to apologize to you and asking for forgiveness afterwards.

"You asked why I'm a thief. Because we were born to be one." I said. "We ain't like you, Splendid. You've got everything you want. A complete childhood. A warm family. An intelligent brain. Super powers. Good grades. And…well…everything! If your sole trouble is love, I can understand it all. But no, you don't and you won't ever understand us. A hero like you doesn't even have to save someone like me."

"Lifty, you get me all wrong. I am not as perfect as you think I am…" Splendid argued. "My life is kind of...messed up. All those super powers don't really matter when you can't even save a person properly. You think I've got everything I want? Ha, no. Nobody knows what I want. Nobody wants to know either. I want friends but I don't have any. People admire me simply because I'm a hero not because of whom I really am. I want Flaky but she doesn't love me back. I want someone to help figure out what goes wrong in me but what everyone does is applauding even if I suck at saving people. Damn, why is everyone faking so much? But again, I'll say being poor doesn't give you a reason to steal. You always have a choice. We all do. The only reason why I'm fighting against you and Shifty is because I'm trying my best to make this town a better place. It's the only thing I can do."

I glanced at Splendid in awe. For a moment, I didn't know how to respond to him. I never thought he was confronting so many problems with his life. Again, he might be lying. It could be trick he was playing on me, trying to convince me to abstain from stealing. Yet…his expression was ever so sincere and his voice so subtle. He didn't look like he was telling lies. He was truly confessing something about him. Now, why would he do that? In front of me? In front of his enemy?

"Lifty, I'm offering you a choice." Splendid stood up and walked towards me. "I won't take you to jail if you give up on your criminal behavior. You can work and earn your own cash. Admit it, it's even more effective than robbing a bank. You two never get any loot successfully, do you?"

"Just why are you saying this to me?" I loured at him.

I knew it! He's just trying to get me off stealing after all!

"It's your choice. This life is yours. You decide what to do with it. I'm not doing this out of sympathy, so don't get it wrong. I'm doing this for the sake of the community. You and your brother have already caused enough damage to our society. I bet you're also exhausted always being chased down by me. If you choose another path, we may all lead a better life."

Funny he should say that. He's actually the one who's caused enough damage to our town, lol.

"And how do you think it will work?" I asked, half laughing. "People hate us to death. You think they will let us work at their place? Stop proposing stupid ideas. It's meaningless. I say, we were born to be a thief so a thief we shall be. Forever!"

"Then I will have no choice but to get you imprisoned." Splendid said, shaking his head in disappointment. "It's not actually that difficult. I can always help you get a job if you want. The grocery store down the street is recruiting a new salesman. If you're fine with it, I can have a talk with Petunia and you will get a place for sure."

"I'm not taking your favor!" I bawled. "What do you think I am? A beggar? A homeless stray? I don't need your help! Do I have to repeat it again? I DON'T NEED YOUR FUCKING PITY!"

"It's not out of pity!" Splendid yelled. "I'm doing it because I feel like doing so. I won't pity someone like you. If you've already given up on your own life, then let it be. I don't care. I'm just giving you a friendly offer. That's all. Nothing more than that. As said, I'm doing it for my own good as well!"

"Yea, right, whatever." I snorted and looked away. He was so angry that he was clenching his fists and gasping heavily. For a second, I thought he was going to punch me.

After a long moment of pause, he calmed down and sighed. "Well…just remember, it's an offer. Take it or not, it's your choice. You always have a choice." With that, he slowly walked out of the room, leaving me in deep contemplation.

Splendid's POV

I was only offering him an alternative. No, I wasn't doing it out of sympathy. I wouldn't pity someone as wicked and vulgar as him. Whether he took my offer or not, it didn't matter to me. Either way, my duty remained. I was just trying to help. Yea, he's right. Our lives never crossed. Someone like me would never be capable of understanding someone like him. I only knew where my responsibility lay. I had to guarantee the safety of my people. If he was a thief, then I would have to arrest him. For the sake of the entire population.

On the fifth day, he hobbled downstairs. I did not know why but I actually went over to help him.

Gosh, what am I thinking? Why would I bother helping a criminal?

Still, the sight of him limping helplessly stung my heart. He was injured, as I reminded myself. He was nothing more than a wounded person who needed care and attention. It seemed that he was also disgusted by the fact that he couldn't move successfully without relying on my assistance. He placed one arm around my shoulder in an attempt to balance himself. He was sulking and making grimaces. I could tell he was feeling undignified. Though I couldn't deny the throbbing pain in his stomach was torturing him, to a point that he couldn't care less about debasing himself in front of me. I wasn't the usual kind to feel pleased just because I could see my enemy suffering.

His being a thief and his being injured are two different affairs.

With much difficulty, he tottered towards the couch. He let go of my hand and turned away. Wait…was that a blush on his face? That was funny. I thought he felt mortified, rather than embarrassed. Never mind. I strolled back into the kitchen and prepared for dinner. Let's say…I actually ran out of pasta so I decided to try something else. I made him a bowl of porridge, which indeed wasn't satisfying for him.

But hey, who's the boss here? He's at my house, man! He'll have to eat whatever I cook for him. OKAY?

He frowned at the porridge and started twiddling his fork. I rolled my eyes and quickly got him another plate of meatballs. His face lit up all at once. Damn meat addict. I smirked. For a second or two, he did look sort of adorable throwing a tantrum. I had always been told the twins crave for meat like crazy. They never had any meal without meat involved. Alright, obsessive carnivores they were. It's still none of my business, in fact. I wouldn't actually meddle in people's preferences for food. Anyway, he was eating my food, that's all I concerned. I was a bit annoyed with him eating up all the meat stock at my house for the past few days. Geez, that would mean I had to go grocery shopping sooner or later.

"Yo, aren't you eating?" Lifty's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I shook my head and mumbled. "I'm not hungry."

"Oh." Was I imagining things or was he actually looking rather…disappointed? Did he expect me to dine with him or what?

"Thanks for everything."

Well, that was…totally unpredicted. He just…thanked me? I widened my eyes, scratching the back of my neck trying to figure out what was going on. Why was my heart thumping uncontrollably? MAN, I got grateful remarks from people all the time, right? I saved lives and people always thanked me. But this time…it felt different. It just didn't feel right. My enemy was looking at me as if I was his greatest savior.

No. I said in my own mind. Please, don't stare at me like that, Lifty! It's…creeping me out. It's sending chills all over my body. Fine! I can feel your gratitude. Now please just don't…

"And sorry if I've troubled you."

What? Why is he apologizing all of a sudden? And more importantly, what's he getting at?

My mouth gaped open as I gazed at Lifty in shock. Surely, I wasn't…foreseeing that. First, he thanked me. Then, he apologized. Why was that?

"D-Did you er…find Shifty?" He asked.

"No…I didn't search in detail but I'm sure he's hiding somewhere." I answered. "Probably out of our zone. He should be lurking about the boundaries."

All at once, Lifty's expression sank. I had never seen him that…depressed before.

It's like something is far worse than the gash across his abdomen.

"I think he knows you're with me." I said.

"That's the point." Lifty sighed. "I thought he would come and find you."

"Well, he didn't."

"Yea, I know…"

Okay, I think I'm getting it. So, Lifty is expecting his twin brother to come and somehow rescue him from me but he's totally disappointed when Shifty hasn't shown up for the past few days. Clearly, he's abandoned and possibly forgotten about Lifty. Is that the reason why he's looking so miserable?

"What do you expect? It's not the first time he's dumped you, right?" I pinpointed. "Look, I'm not trying to manipulate you or anything, in case you think I am. I'm just saying if he doesn't mind you getting hurt, arrested and imprisoned, I don't see why you're still willing to stick up for him. Fine, you can say I understand nothing because I ain't your brother. But to be honest with you, I have a twin myself and I think you all know whom he is. Splendont and I never get along but that doesn't matter. We just take different paths. I know most of the stealing ideas didn't come from you. Your brother dominates most of the heist."

"You don't get it…He's all I've got…" Lifty said calmly.

"I know. So? I'm always alone. Nobody even cares. You still have yourself to cling to. At least, you have me."

What? Shit, what have I just said? OH MY GOSH, I don't mean that.

"Huh?"

"I mean…" I stammered. Things couldn't get worse when you said the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong person. Quick, Splendid! Defend yourself and come up with a good excuse. "What I mean is, if you decide to lead a more…proper life and you're afraid you have nowhere to go…maybe you can stay with me?"

"…"

Okay, I screwed up. I can't believe I'm trying to befriend a criminal who just so happens to be my all-time rival…my destined foe. That's like the most hilarious and outrageous thing ever! Right, I should probably take back my words before this nonsense goes any further.

"I…" We both spoke at the same time. I gasped. I could feel my cheeks reddening. Damn! What could be worse than flushing right in front of your enemy?

"Okay, I did think over what you said yesterday…" Lifty said. "About the offer thingie."

"Yea?"

"I'm taking your offer."

"S-Seriously?" I couldn't believe my ears. Did I just mishear something badly? He was taking my offer? He was willing to quit stealing?

"I'll give it a try…" Lifty continued. "I thought Shifty would come looking for me but like you said…since even my own brother doesn't care about me anyway, I might be better off on my own now. I've always wanted to try other things but I couldn't…mostly because Shifty wouldn't allow me to. He insists on stealing so I have to tag along with him. And…I really don't want to go back to jail…that's for sure."

"That's okay." I nodded understandingly. I was taken aback by surprise when I saw Lifty smile. He actually smiled!

"I was really angry at first because…I thought you were doing this out of pity. But then, I thought it over. I should be glad you didn't kill me or I would most definitely die a painful death." He sneered.

"I only killed you last time because you two were using a kryptonut against me. I wouldn't have gone that far if you didn't try to kill me in the first place." I explained.

"Yea, right. It doesn't matter now, does it? Nah, you've scattered it into pieces. We have nothing else to defeat you."

"Um…Lifty, just saying,if you quit stealing, I'm never going to kill you."

"Look," He cleared his throat and clarified. "I'm only taking your offer. It doesn't mean I want to have anything to do with you. It's not like I want to be your friend or anything. Yea, you saved me, thanks for that. But after this, I'll be leaving soon. That is. Let's pretend nothing's ever happened between us. If I quit being a thief, you quit hunting me down. We're just strangers living in the same town. Okay?"

Well, what am I supposed to say?

It's not like I wanna be his friend either…right?

I don't know. I really don't know, actually. Do I need friends? I used to have Flaky but since she's dating Flippy now, I don't think she wants me near her.

"Fine, let's draw a line between us. After I help you get your job, we're done." I said, drawing an invisible line on the table with my index finger.

"Sure. I'll pay you back later, for getting me a job."

"Don't mention it." I said casually, flopping back in my chair.