After seeing the Phantom Thief AU art that somachos made on tumblr, I was inspired to write this! Go check out the art! I hope that you all like it! Please let me know ^.~ Obviously I don't own YOI or make any profit!

GUYS! Go visit maroalpaca on tumblr to see amazing art that is based off of Chapter 4 of my fic! I still can't believe that fanart inspired a fic, that in turned inspired fanart! God I love this fandom so freakin much *hugs YOI fandom*

Under the Cover of Eros

YOI Phantom Thief AU

Chapter 21 - Nimble Fingers

Detective Nikiforov exhaled heavily, his breath crystallizing in front of him. He stood outside of Gracie Mansion, the home of the Mayor of New York City, in the middle of a blizzard. If Eros wanted to claim the Mayor's ring at midnight, then this is where it would be done. Viktor pulled back his glove and looked down at his watch, "quarter till," he cleared his throat and took out his radio. "This is Detective Nikiforov, all teams report in! Over."

"Team A in position, all clear! Over."

"Team B in position, all clear! Over."

"Team C in position, all clear! Over."

"Team D in position, all clear! Over."

"Remember, act like you are trying to stop him, we don't want Eros to think that we are letting him escape! Over!" Viktor said authoritatively into the radio. A chorus of 'roger, over' rang through the device as Viktor carefully stowed it into his coat pocket and turned to walk back inside. 'Tonight Eros, your overconfidence will be your downfall,' Viktor internally crowed.

Viktor walked through the grand marble floored foyer and into what he called 'the blue room.' The inside of the room from the patterned carpets to the walls and draperies and even the furniture, were all decorated in varying shades of blue. The walls were teal with bright white trim and the two plush loveseats on either side of the fireplace were a rich robin's eye. An ornate golden chandelier that looked as though it had once been powered by oil and later converted to electricity, bathed the room in a soft, gentle glow.

Mayor Crispino was seated on one of the loveseats and Viktor slumped onto the other. She looked up at the detective, concern written across her beautiful face. "Detective, are you sure that this is wise? What if something goes wrong and I never see my precious ring again?" Sara queried while fiddling with her ring. She spun it around her finger and then slid it off for a moment, only to push it back down to rest on her finger again. It was a nervous habit that she had picked up shortly after she started wearing the ring.

"Please Madam Mayor, this will work, trust me," Viktor assured the conflicted politician. "Eros is overconfident and cocky to the extreme, he will never see this coming."

"Alright, it was Captain Feltsman's idea after all, I just hope you all know what you are doing," she crossed her arms indignantly. She wanted to see this criminal behind bars, even if it meant laying her own possessions on the line.

"It will work," Viktor said firmly while casting his gaze into the glowing embers of the fire. 'It has to,' he mentally added.

….

"Ok guys, be really careful, this is gonna be the trickiest mission thus far," Phichit warned. He had to admit that the security for the Mayor's Mansion was quite impressive, but nothing that he couldn't handle. "According to Philia, they want you to take the ring Eros, it has a very small tracking beacon in it," Phichit huffed, "silly cops!"

"I can see them all drinking their bottles of water from my position Eros," Leo stated while peering through the sight on his bow. "They should all start taking a little siesta in a few minutes. That was my abuelita's special recipe after all," he smirked.

"Good thing Philia was able to distribute those to all the cops then," Eros commented.

"Looks like one is coming around the corner Eros," Phichit mentioned as his fingers zoomed across his keyboard. "I'll open the front gate when you get closer and the dear police are snoozing."

Eros whistled and held his arm high up in the air, "Taxi!" He yelled at the approaching yellow cab. He was wearing a long black trench coat over his Eros costume tonight to be slightly less conspicuous.

"Where to?" The battle-worn taxi driver asked as Eros smoothly slid into the backseat.

"Gracie Mansion, near 88th and East End," Eros said in a silky voice.

"Gracie Mansion? Ain't that the Mayor's house? Ya can't go there!" The taxi driver spun around to look at the lunatic in his backseat. The person he saw was clad all in black from head to toe. A black fedora with a silk ribbon, tilted downwards, shielded much of the person's face from view. What he could see was an elegant smirk lined by full ruby red lips and bright white teeth. The person was wearing a black trench coat and what looked to be some kind of black boots with really high heels.

"Oh not to worry, the Mayor is expecting me," Eros purred from the back.

The cabbie gulped, there was something dangerously seductive about this person. "Well, if you says so," he turned back around and started the meter.

"Thank you and I'm afraid that I am running late due to this little blizzard. I pride myself on punctuality, so if you wouldn't mind hurrying, I will make it worth your wild," Eros cooed.

"On it," the taxi driver mumbled as he carefully accelerated towards their destination.

When they pulled up the private drive to the mansion, all the gates automatically opened for them. Phichit had made sure to time them just right, so the cabbie wouldn't be alarmed by the lack of security present.

"Now then," Eros pulled a wad of bills from the pocket of his coat and handed it to the driver. "I need you to wait here for me, I shouldn't be long, and I will double this for your trouble," he winked.

"Sure thing pal," the cabbie agreed and gladly took the cash, "I ain't goin' no wheres!"

"Excellent, be right back," Eros smiled and got out of the cab. Once he closed the door, Eros surveyed his surroundings. "How we lookin' Agape?" He asked as the snow and bitter wind chilled his face.

"All good, the cops are all napping, it's 11:58, go do your thing Eros," Phichit grinned and typed away while taking a swig of his coke.

"Eros I see you're wearing those sexy boots again, I still need to borrow those man!" Leo laughed into his earpiece. He could clearly see Viktor and the mayor sitting near the fireplace, no one else around was conscious, not that the detective knew that.

"Focus Storge! I need your keen sight and excellent marksmanship tonight, can I count on you?" Eros growled, now was not the time for goofing around.

"Sorry boss, I'm on it, all good here, you're clear," Leo confirmed solemnly. He could tell when Eros meant business, and this was clearly one of those times.

"Thank you, moving in. Agape, be ready," Eros whispered as he reached the front door which he found to be unlocked. Now all he had to do was wait for the stroke of midnight to begin.

"Will do," Phichit smiled, "go get 'em Eros!"

…

The grandfather clock chimed in the foyer, echoing it's happy bells throughout the mansion. The fire crackled, the Mayor took in a deep breath, and Viktor cocked his gun. 'Here we go,' he thought.

"Good evening Detective, Madame Mayor," came the sultry cadence of Eros from the foyer.

Viktor leapt to his feet in a flash and took a protective stance in front of the Mayor. "Eros," Viktor hissed and aimed his Glock towards the door.

"Now detective really, after all we've been through, is that anyway to greet me?" Eros smiled and sauntered through the door. He held his hands up in surrender, with his head tilted downwards.

"Keep your hands where I can see them Eros, you're under arrest," Viktor shouted as he shook from head to toe. It was too easy, clearly this was a trick, Eros would never just give himself up.

"Oh detective you know I love it when you tell me what to do," Eros simpered. "But as per usual, I'm afraid you have underestimated me once again," Eros raised his head and smirked. "Now unless you plan to put the dear Mayor's life or that of your sleeping colleague's in danger, I suggest you toss your gun over here."

"I'm not buying it Eros," Viktor snarled. He had fallen for Eros's threats too easily in the past, tonight would be different!

"Storge!" Eros yelled. Almost instantly the window behind them shattered and an arrow shot through it to embed itself in the carpet less than a foot away from Viktor and the Mayor.

"Do what he says detective!" Sara screamed as she jumped from the sofa.

"Madame Mayor, I knew you'd see it my way dear," Eros grinned. He swung his hips as he glided towards them. He tossed his hat to the side and slid his coat off, revealing his skintight bodysuit and thigh high stiletto boots. Viktor clenched his teeth and the Mayor shuddered behind him. "Now then, the gun if you please detective, come come I don't have all night," Eros hummed and held out his hand for the weapon.

"Damn you Eros," Viktor huffed, clicked the safety back on, and placed the gun on top of Eros's gloved hand reluctantly.

"Oh detective, I love it when you talk dirty to me," Eros purred and gracefully sat down with Viktor's gun slung around one long, slender finger. "Please you two, don't be shy, have a seat," Eros gestured to the loveseat opposite himself and the one he was currently perched on. "I don't bite . . . much," he snickered.

Viktor rolled his eyes and guided the Mayor to sit beside him on the loveseat facing Eros. He noticed that Eros was wearing that damn bright red lipstick again and fuck it looked good on him! Viktor audibly gulped as Eros crossed his legs and wiggled his ass on the velvety sofa. He could feel his body betraying him as his cheeks warmed in response.

"Oh detective I have missed you so," Eros laughed when he noticed that Viktor was staring at him and starting to blush. Yuuri deep inside him was getting jealous, but Eros pushed him back and preened under the attention. "And Madame Mayor, it's so nice to see you again as well," Eros smirked and winked in her direction.

Sara huffed and crossed her arms over her chest in frustration. "I wish I could say the same Eros, the only time it will be nice to see you is when you are behind bars!" She snarled and glared at the handsome thief. Sara couldn't deny that the thief was terribly attractive, she had seen that at the press conference. Now however, Eros wasn't wearing a mask over his face and she could appreciate his handsome features more fully.

Eros's laugh was laced with equal parts humor and malice, "well let's agree to disagree then doll!" He swiftly unloaded Viktor's gun and let the bullets fall in a downpour of lead onto the ground at his feet. Eros tossed the gun on the sofa and then slowly removed his right glove.

Viktor watched helplessly as his gun was rendered completely useless. He then felt a sudden vibration from inside his coat pocket, it had to be a text. Viktor didn't think that Eros would allow him to use his cell phone though, so he would have to ignore it for the time being.

"Text sent Eros, that should help persuade the detective to think twice about comparing your two identities," Phichit whispered into Eros's earpiece. "After all, how could Eros be sitting there in front of him while you sent him a text?"

Sara Crispino gasped when she saw a golden ring on Eros's middle finger. It looked just like hers! She glanced down to see that her ring was still safely in place on her own hand and then stared back towards the thief. "Why do you have a copy of my ring?" She asked while pointing rudely towards him.

To her right Viktor looked at the Mayor and then towards Eros, he repeated the motion again and again as though he were watching a tennis match. Even in the dim light of the room and the gentle glow from the adjacent fireplace, Viktor could see that the two rings looked very similar indeed.

Eros's smile widened and his eyes smoldered as firelight danced across them. "Actually sweetheart you are the one who has a copy of this ring," he proclaimed as he wiggled his hand tauntingly in their direction. "This one is the real deal sugar!"

Looking thoroughly insulted, Sara took off her ring and brought it up to her face for closer inspection. She could see the gorgeous jade stone and delicate golden prongs that held it in place. The pattern on the thick and intricately carved band looked normal, but when she looked inside of the band her heart stopped. There was supposed to be an inscription on the underside of the band, but this ring didn't have one, this wasn't her ring!

Across from them Eros had removed the ring on his finger and was tilting his head to read from the inside of the band. "To My Sara, Love ALWAYS Your Mickey 3," Eros recited in a deep, lusty voice. "Awwwww that's just so sweet honey," he winked.

"Give that back you damn thief!" Sara spat and attempted to stand before she felt Viktor's firm, yet gentle hand on her wrist.

"Uh ah ah," Eros chimed while wagging his index finger with a wicked little grin.

"Stay calm Madame Mayor, he is trying to rile you up, don't give him the sick satisfaction," Viktor warned with a glare directed at Eros.

"Boo you're no fun detective," Eros stuck out his tongue.

"How did he get my ring though? And where the hell did this fake one come from?" Sara's head was spinning, she just couldn't understand how the bandit had managed to so thoroughly bamboozle her.

"That's what I'd like to know. . . ." Viktor drawled.

"Well if you must know," Eros spoke down to his fingernails as though he were completely bored with the conversation. "I procured this ring from your hand and replaced it with that one," Eros pointed to the mayor's hand, "at the press conference over a week ago. I was whispering sweet nothings into your ear and while you were all hot and bothered, my nimble fingers took care of the rest," Eros yawned and covered his mouth with his right hand, the ring sparkled in the firelight.

"But . . I . . .how . . .whe . .. but" Sara muttered incoherently.

"Yes yes," Eros waved. "I had that ring made for you, it's almost a perfect replica of this ring, sans the endearing inscription and with a lesser valued jade stone of course. You see when you pushed your dear twin brother out of your life and he felt compelled to purchase this ring for you, he of course sought out dear ol' JJ. The ring was stolen ten years ago from a small family shrine in China. JJ used his patented five finger discount method to 'buy it,' and well eventually he sold it to your sweet, naïve brother Michele."

Sara was speechless, she didn't understand how Eros seemed to know so much about her and Mickey. What was more, Sara didn't know if the story of the ring's origins were true or not. Surely Mickey would have had no idea when he bought it, but had Mr. Leroy really stolen it in the first place? "Do . . . do you have proof of these claims?" She finally managed to squeak out.

Eros snorted at that, "yeah, but nothing that was acquired legally sweetheart! We tend to operate in the gray area between the light of the law and the dark of true crime. My Agape tells me that this jade stone dates back to the Ming Dynasty and had been past down in that Chinese family for generations, so I'm sorry honey, but it doesn't belong to you."

"And what are you planning on doing with it Eros?" Viktor spoke up, he had been listening to the exchange between the thief and mayor carefully. He noted that Eros hadn't touched on what his plans for the ring were yet, and Viktor was most interested to find that out.

"Oh don't worry detective, we will make sure that the ring is restored to its rightful owners, after all, that's what we do darlin'!" Eros smirked. He could hear Agape yelling in his ear to get going and he sluggishly got to his feet. Eros slid his glove back over his hand, hiding the ring from sight. "Well kids I must run, sounds like all your little officers are waking up from their naps and I have a taxi waiting in the driveway with the meter running so," he shrugged his coat back on and placed the fedora over his gelled back dark hair.

Sara's mouth was hanging open, she was unable to form a coherent thought at the moment. She was having an ethical dilemma, on one hand she wanted her ring back but on the off chance that Eros was telling the truth, she wanted to return the ring to it's rightful owners. So she sat there, with the fire crackling to her left on the plush blue loveseat in a very blue room, unable to speak.

"I hope I see you soon detective," Eros swooped in to a pecked a quick kiss on Viktor's cheek before the other man could dodge it. He laughed as Viktor groaned and attempted to wipe off the bright red stain across his face. "And you should patch things up with your brother Madame Mayor, family is important and you never know when you could loose them forever, so cherish the time you have," Eros said in a deeply serious tone as he sauntered towards the door. "Oh," he pivoted on his hip and blew the mayor a sultry kiss over his shoulder, "please keep that replacement ring as token of my esteem, after all honey I did vote for ya!" After a quick giggle, Eros spun back around causing his cape to swish through the air, and the sound of his stiletto heels clacking across the marble foyer could be heard echoing off the walls.

….

A figure emerged from the mansion, dressed in a dark trench coat and wearing a black fedora. It paused once it closed the door to look up towards the bright full moon and released a large breath into the frosty air. A face with striking Asian beauty and full red lips was bathed in soft moonlight. Through the scope of his riffle, Seung Gil could barely make out what looked to be a black bodysuit under the coat and the figure was clearly wearing scandalously high heeled boots. He used the camera in the scope to snap a few photo's of the figure. He always required verification of target before taking the shot. He watched as the figure climbed into the back of an ordinary looking taxi cab waiting in the driveway. Seung Gil packed up his gun and prepared to follow them to see where the figure went so he could report his findings back to JJ.

"Ok Eros, time to find out who you really are," Seung Gil cackled menacingly into the night.

Author Notes:

Oh snap Seung Gil is hot on Eros's sexy ass heels! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, have a great weekend, and see you next week ^.~

P.S. head over to my ao3 : kawaiiusagi to check out the collage I made for this chapter or my tumblr: kawaiiusagi2