A/N & Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of the characters that are affiliated with Sucker Punch Productions (2002-05), Nihilistic Software (2011), and/or Sanzaru Games (2012-Present). I do however, own their products and highly recommend to those who don't, to please support the creators of the franchise. The portrayal of their characters in this fan fiction is just that, of fiction; they do not in any way reflect the "actual-true fictional storyline" created by the *stated above* developers of the Sly Cooper franchise.
Greetings to everyone once again; I really have to put a password on my word processor or something, because I just can't to seem to keep to a weekly schedule. Here is chapter six three days after I put my foot down claiming that this will be a weekly series… I'm so weak-willed!
With that said and done. Here is Chapter six. Enjoy.
Chapter Six: Living Nightmare
This has to be a dream. He was back at the posh hotel in France; he could remember this memory so vividly as if it had just happened yesterday. He stood there, alone on the balcony as he looked out over France. The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile looked beautiful at night. Fireworks were bursting in the air celebrating Le Quatorze Juillet, or "Bastille Day" to English-speaking countries, that commemorated the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789.
The sound of the party goers happily chattering away, and dining on the finest French cuisine France has to offer behind closed doors.
He loosened his red bow tie a tiny bit, as it was starting to cut off circulation. He had provoked many positive comments that evening, looking particularly dashing and debonair in his suit and tie; Thaddeus eat your heart out.
He had grown accustomed to the pedestrian life, but every so often he would seek some sanctuary, some place of solace away from the crowds. He missed the times when it was just him and his best buds planning and pulling off a heist, but he didn't regret his decision for even a second. And the reason for that was…
He heard the doors behind him open, the boisterous voices from within exploded out, only to recede again upon closing of the doors.
Speak of the devil. He could faintly hear the "clicking" of the person's heels, along with the sound of clinking metal of the handcuffs that swayed back and forth attached to her black leather handbag as she approached. He didn't turn to look at her, just continued to blankly stare at the wide open world in front of him.
"I was starting to wonder where you wondered off to."
Sly turned in response. Even though he'd been with her for about a year now, after he chose to hang up his hat and cane after the incident on Kaine Island with Doctor M at the Cooper vault; he still occasionally was left breathless when in her presence.
There she was, the love of his life; in a stunning blue dress that clung to her as if the dressed was a part of her, made specifically just for her. Her hypnotic features, her curves, everything… she was the pinnacle of beauty and perfection. Her curled blue locks that were usually tied into a braid were let down and free tonight, it wisped a little in the night air. Her eyes shimmered in the full moon. Her perfectly groomed tail swayed seductively as she walked, and all he could do was continue to stare.
"You weren't planning on running off, and leaving me here by myself were you?" she teased and made sure he saw her hands on her handcuffs.
Sly put up both of his hands in front of him in an "I surrender" gesture and smiled.
"I wouldn't think of it inspector Fox."
She frowned. "What did I tell you about being so formal when we're alone?"
"I wouldn't think of it Mon seul et unique amour." - My one and only love. Sly corrected with one of his trademark playful smirks.
"That's better." She walked into his arms and they embraced. Eyes closed both just enjoying the warmth and their proximity to one another. How he wished this moment would never end.
"Isn't this just a heartwarming scene?" A voice suddenly spoke out.
Both Carmelita and Sly turned in surprise to see a shadowed figure perched on the ledge above the door.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Carmelita asked defensively.
The figure dropped down and walked closer to the couple.
Sly eyes widened as he recognized the intruder.
"It's you! Argh!" Sly cried out in pain as he gripped his forehead with one hand; desperately grasping at the banister with the other, and fell to his knees.
"Sly? What's wrong?" Carmelita wrapped her arms around him.
"Y…you're not supposed to be here. This isn't what happened, why…" Sly's voice trailed off.
"Do I need a reason?" A.C smiled cruelly.
She stopped a few steps away from them and reached back and brought out her weapon. She pressed on the switch and it quickly deployed, the crook glistening in the moonlight, and Sly likened the weapon to the grim reaper's scythe. He quickly shoved Carmelita away.
"Carm… run!" Sly desperately screamed.
But there was nowhere to run; A.C was blocking the only escape route. Carmelita held her ground; her thoughts were on the safety of her partner.
"Drop your weapon. Now." She ordered with commanding authority despite being unarmed herself.
"You're threatening and assaulting an inspector and constable of Interpol, I'm sure you know what's in store for you if you continue with your actions." She was stalling, she unbuckled her handbag.
"I don't think you're in any position to be giving anyone orders inspector." A.C slashed at the ground creating sparks, leaving deep slits into the concrete.
A.C had the advantage and she knew, she was taunting them, all the while wearing the world's most deranged smile.
Sly managed to put weight back into his legs, and he stepped in between her and Carmelita.
"Sly what are you doing? Get behind me. I'll handle this." Carmelita pleaded, but it fell on deaf ears as Sly ignored her.
"Please, not her. You have business with me right? Just, please, don't hurt her."
"Sly!" Carmelita tried again, but Sly held her firmly behind him.
Sly dropped his voice to an almost inaudible whisper. "When I give the signal you run back to the party, try and get back up, but do not alert the civilian guests. She's dangerous and we don't need widespread panic."
"I'm not leaving you here alone, you're barely able to stand, and she has….that thing!" She gestured at the weapon in A.C's hand.
"Please, just listen to me. I know you're stubborn but I need you to do what I say. Please Carmelita."
Carmelita had never seen Sly so scared and desperate. After a moment she reluctantly agreed.
They were in sync with one another; the very heartbeat that Sly dashed forward, so did Carmelita. Sly threw a punch which A.C easily side stepped, Carmelita ran passed. Sly and A.C swapped places. Now it was Sly's back facing the doors, he was the last line and the only line of defense to prevent A.C from getting to Carmelita.
He knew full well that even with back up, chances were not in their favor. A.C easily rivaled Sly's own natural prowess and athleticisms, and he never had any issues dealing with members of Interpol or of criminal organizations like the Klaww gang; so he doubted she would either.
But his main priority was to get Carmelita out of there; he hadn't planned anything further than that.
He wobbled and struggled to keep standing, there was two battles being waged; Sly against A.C, and Sly versus Sly. His head was getting the better of him. He could barely keep his eyes open, the shooting pain was at the point of blinding him. He threw punches that were nowhere near landing its mark, to which caused A.C to laugh.
Not once, not twice, but three times she tripped him with her crook; laughing manically every time.
The world blurred as he was hurled through the air and landed hard on his back, knocking the air out of his lungs. He tried to get up but a weight was pressed down upon his chest. He gasped for air, as a starving dog gobbles food – compulsively, desperately, in pain and trembling.
A.C pressed upon the weapon again, and the same sickening crackle of electricity that has been instilled into Sly's memory could now be heard. The electricity sparked and arched violently from the weapon.
The sound of a weapon discharging shot out from behind. A.C quickly turned and deflected the shot. She stumbled off of Sly.
Sly lifted his head. He could barely make out the blob, a shapeless entity to his eyes; but he knew who it was. It was Carmelita. She must have known his "master plan" was a ruse for her to escape, but she came back anyway.
It's no use… Carmelita can't beat her, the best decision for her was, to leave me and run…but… It's no use. I'm attracted to her because she's like that…
His vision cleared as oxygen was getting into his system. Every shot that Carmelita fired was negated. A.C's weapon seemed to feed off of the shock pistol, and Carmelita was starting to be pushed back. Foot by foot, inch by inch; A.C drew closer. Sly tried to look away but something prevented him from doing so. It was as if he his head was locked into position to watch what he knew came next.
This is not a dream… it's a nightmare.
A.C knocked the inspector's weapon away; she raised her weapon in the air. It sparked hungrily as if knowing it was about to feed. Tears were in the inspector's eyes and a low whimper came out that carried its way to the Raccoon's ears: Sly…help me…
A.C brought down the weapon on Carmelita. Her scream tore through the night and as quickly as it started, it was over.
Sly's mouth opened, but all that came out of it was a mute howl.
A.C turned and strolled over to Sly. Stood over him and at this angle he could only see the whites of her eyes and the Cheshire cat like grin plastered on her face. She brought her crook near his face and it crackled.
Sly just stared at the weapon, but it wasn't an act of defiance, it was more of an act of acknowledgement. She controlled what happens here, she was in total dominance. Sly lost the will to fight, and his spirit was now broken, and this hurt him more than any flesh wound she could inflict.
A.C lifted up her weapon into the air once more, but before she brought it down her lips moved. Sly watched, as she mouthed the words.
She brought down the weapon and the all too familiar darkness enveloped him again. The only sound that rang in his ears was the words she mouthed: You killed her…. You killed her.
Bentley and the rest of the gang hurried, following the cues from Penelope to which way they should turn to keep up with the mysterious woman. Bentley continued to monitor Sly's condition. Both Penelope and Murray with important tasks at hand, keeping track and driving, still occasionally tossed a glance back at their fallen comrade.
Sly, you're a lucky guy to have so many that care about you. Bentley thought to himself. This wasn't just happening to Sly. It was happening to all of them. Bentley sat there watching Sly, as a tear ran down his furry cheek.
"Sly?" They all said at once. But he didn't speak back to them or even try to open his eyes.
There was just that single tear.
A/N: Greetings everybody who reads this. I hope *repeating again* that you all enjoyed this as much as I did writing it. I will be taking a short break from this fan fiction and will be working on another based on Beowulf (the Seamus Heaney translation edition). I've been meaning to do one, because he was always represented as this hero among heroes, men among men… that was an aspect I found extremely irritating. It's going to be following along the story that SH covered with my own touches added to it.
Also, I've added a photo and updated my profile to give the allusion that I am in fact, human. Hopefully properly because I am rather new to this whole online forum thing and I hope that I updated/uploaded it correctly…
Anyway, as usual, please post any comments, reviews, suggestions, and questions as I'll try and address them in my author's notes. P.S I hope the bolded "A/N" is to your liking Cheesebread222. Also when I am finished with the Beowulf piece, I might be willing to do a collaboration (highly unlikely due to my schedule but would be interested)