Chapter 21
The Storm Cloud
"Out of the way!"
"Oof!" Breath escaped Charlie as a man suddenly blundered right into him. The force of the impact knocked him right on his back with the man sprawled next to him, groaning.
"Watch where you're going, would you?" Charlie growled as he rubbed his sore head.
He glanced over and his eyes widened in surprise. This man had spiky hair similar to his, except his was orange and red and stuck straight up on his head.
"I gave you a warning." The man said while trying to sit up. "I need to get out of here before they catch me."
"What-"Charlie stopped and suddenly noticed the large bag of gold lying in between them. He blinked at the man. "You're a thief?"
"Not really your business is it?" the man grabbed the bag and managed to stand up.
"I think he went over here!"
"Crap!" the man tried to run, but ended up falling headfirst into a bush. He quickly scrambled inside, though Charlie could obviously see his orange hair sticking out. Any guard with half a brain could tell he was there.
"Hey! You there!"
Charlie glanced up as two guards in chain armor and wooden helmets towered over him.
"What are you doing on the ground?" one of them inquired.
Charlie sniffed. "Is it a crime to sit on the ground here in…in…wherever the hell this is?"
"This is the entrance to Falador." The second guard said importantly.
Falador. Charlie swore he recognized the name. He probably heard it before when he was in Ardougne.
Charlie stood up and brushed the dirt off his clothes. "Well, do you people normally interrogate visitors for no reason?"
"We're on the trail of a dirty thief that robbed the bank."
"Sounds like a problem."
The guard narrowed his eyes through his helmet. "You see him? Crazy orange hair, bumbling idiot, can't miss him."
"I think if I saw someone like that I would know." Charlie shrugged.
The guards glared at him. "Don't avoid the question. If we find out you've been hiding a wanted thief of Falador you're in for some serious trouble."
Charlie threw up his hands in defense. "Whoa! I just got here. What would I gain by protecting a thief?"
The guards exchanged a look.
"And while you guys are questioning me, the guy you're looking for is probably halfway across Runescape by now." He jerked his neck sideways. "Better get moving."
The guards gave him one last hard look before running past him down the trail he had come from. Charlie shut his eyes and let out a quiet breath. He felt like he had just done something really stupid.
"Dude! I owe you one." Charlie winced at the sudden pain in his arm as the guy popped out of his hiding place and swung at him. "I thought those idiots had me for sure."
Charlie turned to him with a smirk. "Don't mention it. Just one thief helping out another."
"You're a thief?" the man looked him up and down. "You don't look like it."
Charlie shifted the backpack on his shoulders. "Been doing some traveling. Only steal when I'm running out of food."
The man snorted in contempt. "Stealing because you need to? That's no fun." He took the money bag, flung it in the air, and caught it again. "Stick with me and I'll show you how much fun you can really have with it." He started walking back into the city.
Charlie frowned. "Wait. You're going BACK into the place you just stole from?" he started to follow him anyway.
"Yup. I'll let you in on a secret." He grabbed Charlie and pulled him until he could whisper into his ear. "I have a secret hideout in somewhere they'd never expect." He let go and literally hopped forward until he was next to a statue of Saradomin.
Charlie couldn't help but laugh. He liked this guy. He wasn't what he expected he'd find if he found another thief.
"Is your secret hideout inside the statue?" Charlie teased as he approached.
"Ssh!" the guy hissed. He glanced around before putting both his hands on the statue and pushing it forward. Charlie widened his eyes in surprise as it slid across the ground and revealed a hole with a staircase.
"Not inside it, under it." The man said proudly.
"Impressive." Charlie tried to walk inside it, but the guy whipped his arm up to block his way.
"I don't just let ANYBODY in here." The orange haired guy said. "To enter, you have to be a part of my gang."
Charlie blinked in confusion. "Your gang?"
"Yes, my gang."
"Who's your gang?"
The man suddenly looked uncomfortable and he shifted his feet. "Well…it's just me at the moment. But I'm forming a gang! We're going to be the scariest, sneakiest, most dangerous gang in all of Falador. Maybe even Runescape!"
Charlie chuckled. "Best thieving gang in Runescape?"
"It could happen."
Charlie nodded. "I'm in." he pulled down the guy's arm and started descending down the staircase.
"W-wait!" he could hear the guy following close behind. "You're in? Just like that?"
"Yeah," Charlie found himself in a large underground tunnel. "How did you find this place?"
"Well, being a thief I tend to sneak around a lot. One day I heard the guards mention an old myth about an emergency underground tunnel under Falador. So I did some digging and I found, well, this." The man barged past him and swept his hands around a whole other room. "Just don't ask me how long it took." He added.
Charlie looked around and realized there were only the makeshift bed and a small place to make a fire. It seemed too big to house only one guy.
"Doesn't it ever get lonely living in this hole?" Charlie asked without really thinking.
The man shrugged. "Not anymore. Because you're here now!" he punched him in the shoulder and shouted. "Welcome to the Falador gang!"
Charlie rubbed his shoulder and laughed. "I guess I could get to like it here."
"This is great!" orange hair started to jump around excitedly. "There's so much stuff we can do now. We can come up with clever plans and steal even bigger stuff than dumb old bags of money and we can get all the chicks and-"
"Whoa!" Charlie threw his backpack into the dirt wall. "How about we start with getting me a bed first?"
The man stopped moving and smiled. "No problem. I'm Flame, by the way."
Charlie eyed his hair. "I can see why your mother would think that would be an appropriate name." he joked.
"Oh, that's not my real name. When thief's want to leave their past behind they drop their real names and come up with much cooler stuff."
Charlie smirked and laughed softly. "I guess I can understand that. Wipe the slate clean, right?"
"Exactly! So, what's your name my fellow spiky haired friend?" he poked one of his spikes as he asked.
Charlie could only stare at him for a moment. His father called him Charles, but his mother and sister called him Charlie so he changed it. Maybe now it was time to change it again.
"Cloud." He finally said. "My name is Cloud."
Cloud kept pace with Flame as they practically flew through the city of Falador. He had never felt so alive in his life, so free. Like he could do anything he wanted to.
"Step it up. They're gaining on us!" Flame called back as he rounded a building.
"Like hell they are." Cloud called back as he rounded the same building and balanced on a bridge as he ran with ease.
"Such a show-off," Flame laughed.
"Not my fault the guards here are so slow-whoa!" Cloud came to a screeching halt when they almost barreled into five guards lined along the back way of Falador, the way they were going to go.
Cloud turned around and saw five more running at a fast speed toward them.
"Dude! Quit gawking and follow me." Flame had squeezed between two buildings and was running away from the guards. Cloud dodged an arrow and followed close behind.
"I assume you have a backup plan?" Cloud asked as they ran side by side.
"Don't I always?" Flame asked him. "There should be a hole in one of the walls."
Cloud half-doubted him, knowing that Flame had been wrong before, but he knew this area better than him. At least for now. Cloud had been in the 'gang' for only a few weeks, but during that time Flame had taught him just how fun stealing items that weren't necessary for survival was. He was so used to stealing things he needed. It was a nice change and it was a hell of a lot more fun.
"I don't see a-"Cloud began to say.
"There!" Flame curved around until they were in front of a missing chunk in the Falador wall.
"Why would they just leave this open?" Cloud wondered.
Flame shrugged and jumped over the low part of the wall that was still somewhat intact. "No idea. Hurry up before they catch up to us."
Cloud leaped over the wall with ease and bolted forward in a random direction.
"No! This way, into the woods." Flame ran the complete opposite way into charred, dead black trees and crumbly dirt with no grass.
"I wouldn't call that woods, but ok." Cloud kept pace with him, weaving around the remains of the trees. Cloud wondered why Flame was taking him through here. There wasn't much cover after all. "Why are we going this way?"
"Just around this corner there will be a place to lay low until-oh crap!" Flame broke off as he rounded the corner of a large dirt mound and Cloud could only just see his feet leave the ground.
He rolled his eyes and turned the corner, fully expecting to see Flame sprawled across the ground like the clumsy ogre he was.
He was half right. Flame was lying on the ground, but someone else was with him. A man in a black cloak with long black hair and a black beard sat beside him, looking utterly confused and surprised. He was sitting cross-legged in front of a small fire and had a large backpack propped up beside him.
"What in the name of the gods is going on here?" the man asked loudly.
Cloud put on a nervous smile. "Sorry, my friend is kind of an idiot." He said as he helped Flame up. "He falls down a lot."
The man raised a bushy eyebrow. "I can see that."
Cloud was trying not to look urgent, but he was failing the battle as he heard the crunches of twigs and the voices of angry guards coming closer.
The man seemed to hear it too because he glanced toward the noises and turned back to the two boys in front of him with suspicion in his eyes. "Are you two running from someone?"
"Us? Running? Why, that's silly talk!" Flame laughed in a high pitched, clearly fake way.
Cloud rubbed a hand across his face in exasperation.
"If you need help, perhaps I can be of service."
Cloud's eyes widened and he nodded his head vigorously, not able to find words at that moment.
The man glanced over at the blankets and sleeping bag. "Think both of you can fit in there?"
Without stopping to ponder, Flame and Cloud dived into it and managed to both get under it. Cloud tried to ignore the awkward position they were in and instead focused on the noise outside as footsteps emerged from the charred woods they had come from.
"Hey, old timer! See two guys come through here? One with orange hair and one with yellow?" a voice said.
"I'm not old, I'm still aging!" Cloud heard the man snap. "And how dare you barge into here while I'm trying to get some peace? Can't a retired adventurer get one second of quiet around this damn place? You people think you can stomp around wherever you please doing whatever you wish. I ought to have a talk with your boss and-"
"Settle down!" the guard stopped him, suddenly sounding less confident. "We just want to know if you've seen anyone pass through here."
"The only people I've seen are you and frankly, I'm not too thrilled about that."
"I don't think he knows anything." Cloud only just caught the whisper. "Let's get out of here."
"Fine. Good day to you-wait!"
Cloud stiffened as the footsteps drew closer. He felt Flame hold his breath beside him.
"Careful! You'll wake the rats." The man said.
"Rats?"
"Giant rats to be precise. A few wandered over to keep me company and I don't suppose they'll be too happy if you lift up those blankets."
"Yuck. I hate rats. Let's get out of here." As the men walked away, Cloud could only just catch one of the guard's mumble, "Crazy old man…"
Cloud waited a few moments before the man said, "Alright, you two can come out now."
Cloud and Flame lifted off the blankets with a breath of relief.
"Thanks, dude. We owe you." Cloud said to the man.
The man smiled. "You do owe me don't you? Don't suppose you two have a place that I could stay?"
"Actually-"
"We don't just show ANYONE where we stay." Flame butted in on Cloud. "It's top secret and only those in our gang know about it."
Cloud shut his eyes, silently willing him to shut his mouth.
"A gang? What kind of gang?"
"Well, again, thanks for your help but we have to get going." Cloud slapped his hand over Flame's mouth before he could answer and started pushing him back the way they had come.
"Is it a thieving gang? Because I might be able to offer you some assistance if it is."
Cloud stopped and turned around. "What kind of assistance?" he asked carefully.
"The healing kind." The man stood up and Cloud realized just how much taller he was than them. "My name is Irit. I-"
"Like the herb?" Flame interrupted.
"Yes, like the herb." Irit replied almost grudgingly. "I was once an adventurer, but I retired not too long ago. Now I focus on skills that I learned long ago with my healing abilities." He glanced toward his backpack. "I've been trying to find somewhere to use them, but no one will have me."
"We'll have you!" Flame said at once.
"Dude! We don't even know this guy." Cloud argued. Flame always made quick and irrational decisions.
"What's to know? He helped us out and now he's offering to move in so he can heal us when we get hurt." Flame pointed out.
Cloud scratched his head as he thought about this. "You do get hurt a lot…" he mumbled.
"Well, gentleman," Irit piped up after a moment passed, "do I have a place in your gang?"
Cloud sighed. "Alright," he said, ignoring Flame's yell of triumph, "gather your things and we'll take you to our hideout."
Irit smiled and bent down to pack up his items and put out the fire. "Thank you. You won't regret this. How many more of your gang are there?"
"Actually, it's just us right now." Flame chuckled half-heartedly.
Irit didn't react. He only said, "Fair enough." And finished packing before turning to the two boys again. "Right. Shall we go?"
Cloud nodded, still not sure how much he trusted this man. But Flame seemed to trust him enough and Irit wasn't in much position to betray them. He just had to trust his friend. "This way." He said and led the way back to Falador.
Cloud sighed to himself as he pushed the statue back in place to conceal the stairway. Not much had happened in the last week and he was bored out of his mind. Flame, Irit, and he had managed to uncover another part in the tunnel that would be a perfect room for Irit to set up his healing supplies.
They had spent most of their time fixing up that room and swiping extra supplies the old healer needed. Though it was good what they were doing, it was also tedious work. Flame seemed to have noticed his constant sighing and grumbling and had informed him of a bar that was practically right next door called the Rising Sun Inn.
Cloud had gladly taken the opportunity and was now on his way there. He pulled a black hood over his spiky blonde hair, as much as he resented doing so. He still had a little while to wait until the hunt for him cooled down and he could walk around freely or at least until the guards put up wanted posters of him.
He flipped a gold coin in his hand. It had been a while since he had actually intended on paying for something. It was only a beer though, it wouldn't be too expensive.
He came to a building and looked up at the hanging wooden sign above him. It read 'Rising Sun Inn' and had a picture of half a sun on it.
"This is the place," Cloud said to himself and opened the doors.
"Welcome, honey!" a girl in an apron with blonde hair pulled up into a bun greeted him while she wiped the bar table with a towel. "My name's Emily. I'll get to you in just a second." She said and turned her attention to the shelves behind her.
Cloud sat down on one of the stools and looked around. No one else was in the bar except another worker that looked similar to Emily except she had brunette hair. Cloud assumed they were sisters.
"Alright, what can I get you?" Cloud turned back and Emily was leaning on the counter close to him, waiting for his order.
"I just want a beer." He told her.
She giggled, to his surprise. "We don't serve regular beer. We have Asgarnian ale which is as close as you'll get."
"I'll take that then." He said, placing the gold on the table which she took happily, winked at him, and turned around again.
While Cloud waited, he heard the door open but didn't crane his neck to look.
"Hi, Rose. You're here early today." The brunette girl Cloud saw before greeted the newcomer cheerfully.
"Kaylee," Cloud heard the new person grunt back a reply. He only turned to look at the person when she sat down across from him.
Cloud blinked. This girl was fairly thin and had messy black hair tied up into a ponytail so that her hair bushed out wildly. He could only see the side of her head but he saw she had green eyes that glowed like a reptiles. She wore a skinny black dress that emphasized all of her curves.
The girl suddenly turned and glared at him. "What are you looking at?" she growled.
Cloud shrugged. "Just a pretty girl." He said almost automatically. He had never really flirted with anyone before, but he figured he'd give it a shot.
The girl's scowl gave way to a smirk and Cloud figured he must have said something right. The girl, apparently named 'Rose', glanced back at the counter when Emily came back with two mugs in her hands. "Here's your ale." She said to him and to Rose she said, "Hi, Rose. The usual Wizard Mind Bomb right?" and placed the mug in front of her.
"Yeah. Thanks." Rose mumbled tiredly and reached into an apparently hidden pocket in her dress.
"That's on me." Cloud piped up quickly.
Rose looked at him weirdly. "I'm not a charity case. I can pay myself." She said defiantly.
"I'm sure you can. I'm just trying to do a nice thing." He put all the gold he had left on the table and Emily snatched it up with a smile at him.
Rose arched an eyebrow and took a sip of the drink. "So you're just a nice guy doing random acts of kindness, huh?" she asked sarcastically after she finished her sip.
Cloud swished the gold substance around in his mug without looking at her. "I'm just a guy looking for some fun." He told her honestly.
To his surprise, she grabbed the mug and scooted toward him until she was right next to him. "Really?" she learned forward with a gleam in her eyes. "What kind of fun?"
He blinked, but he didn't back away from her. He actually kind of liked it. She had an interesting smell to her. It reminded him of walking in the woods around evergreen trees.
"Cat got your tongue?" she smiled and took a hold of his hand. Her hand felt warm, but not soft. "Maybe I could show you some fun? Hm?"
"I-"his voice broke as she used her other hand to trace along his smooth, hairless face. He felt his heart speed up as she leaned her face even closer to his than before. It was a weird feeling he was having, one he hadn't had before.
He tried once again to speak. "Rose…I don't think-"
"Shh." She placed a finger over his lips before moving her hands onto his shirt. "What's your name, again?"
"C-Cloud." He just managed to sputter out as she pulled him up by the collar of his shirt and dragged him up the staircase.
"Cloud," she repeated his name in a whisper. "That's sexy."
Before he knew what was going on, she had pressed her lips against his. After that he was completely under her spell, utterly helpless before her as she pushed him into a room and slammed the door behind them.
"So…you WANT me to have a wanted poster of myself?" Cloud asked in disbelief.
Flame scoffed like it was the dumbest question he ever asked. "Of course! We're not an official thieving gang until we all have wanted posters. I got mine weeks ago; Rose got hers the first couple days she was here, now it's your turn."
Cloud frowned at him and kicked a rock across the dirt. "It just doesn't make sense."
"You're not scared of a couple Falador guards are you?"
"Of course not; I just think it's impractical to purposely get on the guard's bad side."
Flame laughed. "You're acting like you're going to go up to them and tell them you're a thief. I was thinking more on the lines of robbing the north bank."
"What's the difference between robbing the south bank and robbing the north?"
"The north has considerably more cash, which means it's well-guarded. I never mentioned it because we only had two people, plus Irit. Now that we have Rose I think we got this."
Cloud smiled. "See? Is it that hard to think ahead? Nice job, buddy."
After Cloud's interesting introduction with Rose in the bar, he had offered her a place in the gang. He wasn't sure WHY. He assumed because he wasn't thinking clearly after all the excitement and new experiences. But he hadn't regretted it yet. Turned out Rose was extremely gifted in the art of thievery. She was nimble, quick, and fearless.
Not to mention a hell of a kisser…
"So when do we strike?" Cloud inquired. He was excited now. They were finally becoming a gang and as this would be their first bigger than normal job. Everything had to be perfect. The timing, the placement, the costumes, the-
"I was thinking whenever we feel like it." Flame announced happily.
Cloud stared at him for a long while before rubbing his eyes and sniffing. "I'm sorry…did you just say whenever we feel like it?"
Flame pulled back his orange spiky hair, only to have it stick straight up again. "Yeah. The guards are so dumb that even if we completely mess up we'll still get away."
"But do you really want to take that chance?" Cloud questioned in exasperation. "If we're doing this to make a name for ourselves then do we want to look like bumbling idiots?"
Flame stared at his worn out shoes. "I guess you're right. I just never really came up with a well thought out plan before. It used to be just me and my gut and I haven't been caught yet."
"The first time I met you; you fell and were nearly captured…"
"That was just a fluke-"
"And then you fell again and we had to ask Irit for help."
"Look, do we really need to point fingers here?" Flame snapped, looking embarrassed. "It's not like the north bank is any different in design to the south one. We can just grab the money and get out."
"But you said there are more guards there. What do we do about them?"
Flame glanced back toward the statue that their hideout was under, his gaze wandering off into space as he thought. "We could have Rose sprinkle a little whore magic on them." He though out loud.
Cloud narrowed his eyes. "Whore magic?" he asked skeptically.
"You know! Flirt with them. Distract them."
"That's…actually a good idea. But do you think she'll go for it?"
"Go for what?" Cloud was so caught up in the plan that he hadn't even heard the footsteps of their scantily dressed fellow gang member as she approached them behind.
Cloud smirked and swiveled around. "Just in time! We have a job for you, my dear. How do you feel about rubbing up against chainmail?"
~~~
It took more convincing than Cloud would have liked, but after over exaggerating the amount of the gold they would acquire enough times, she finally agreed to the plan and everything was set into place. Rose would distract the guards outside, Flame would keep the bankers in one room, and he would get the key to the upstairs vault and take as much gold as he could carry.
Cloud crouched down next to Flame as they waited for Rose to work her magic. Three guards stood right outside the door to the bank, though none of them seemed to be paying to too attention as they were gossiping and loudly telling vulgar jokes.
"Come on Rose, where are you?" Cloud muttered under his breath.
"Dude, relax." Flame tried to calm him. "She knows what she's doing. And these guards aren't exactly on high alert. I bet we could sneak past them even without her if we needed to."
Cloud opened his mouth to reply, but just then a dark figure stepped out of the shadows of the bank and headed straight for the guards. As the figure got closer, Cloud could clearly recognize Rose in her skin tight black pants, her high heels, and her lacey bodice she was apparently trying to pass for a shirt. Her black hair was down and was surprisingly straight, quite unusual from her normal messy ponytail look.
She walked up to one guard without him even noticing, grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, tore off his helmet, and caught him in a lip lock without even batting an eye. The other guards looked on in shock at first, but after it wore off it was replaced by whooping and howling like wild animals.
After she came back up for air, she began to pull the guard she had ambushed farther away from the bank, motioning for the other two to follow. Said guards exchanged a quick glance and followed her close behind like lost puppies.
Flame raised an eyebrow. "She's good."
Cloud fought back a twinge of jealously. This was just business after all. "Yeah, she is. Let's go before they get bored." He ran forward with Flame right by his side. He kicked open the bank door and raised the crossbow he had swiped from a half asleep guard. "Everyone get down, now!" he yelled the order.
The bankers let out scared gasps and crouched down behind the stalls.
Flame stalked toward them with his own crossbow in hand. "Just give us what we want and you'll get out of this without a bolt in your head." Cloud was slightly surprised at the menace in his friend's words.
Cloud walked up to a random banker and pointed the crossbow right at her skull. "Give me the key to the lock upstairs."
The girl was shaking and whimpering so much that Cloud doubted she even heard him.
"She doesn't have it." Cloud looked over at the stall next to hers and quickly switched targets. "Here, just take it." He held out an iron key with a shaky hand.
Cloud tore it out of his hand and nodded to Flame, who nodded back and returned to patrolling around the terrified bankers. He ran up the stairs in a couple bounds and found the cage that held the bags of gold quite easily. He inserted the key and twisted it. The door opened without any alarm going off. Obviously the bank was confident enough to not put one in.
He took out a large sack he had stuffed in his pocket and started shoveling the bags of gold into it. When it started to get heavy he finally stopped and threw the sack over his shoulder. It would be enough money to feed them for a year.
He ran down the stairs happily and called out, "Alright! Let's-"
He stopped just as he hit the bottom of the stairs. Across the room, a man with a mask over his mouth stood over Flame with his own crossbow aimed at him.
Cloud got his own crossbow out and pointed it at the stranger's back. "Hey! Who the hell do you think you are?"
The man whipped around, though not a trace of surprise shown in his dark brown eyes.
"Get out of here before I shoot a bolt into your chest." Cloud tried to intimidate the other thief.
The man scoffed and he rolled forward and punched the crossbow out of Cloud's hands in a single move. Cloud tried to get out of the way, but the man was too quick and kicked his feet so that he fell, the sack of money bags falling out and scattering everywhere.
Without really planning any course of action, Cloud arched back and jumped back on his feet, kicking his opponent in the process. It was enough to push him backward, but he still stayed upright. Cloud decided to do the reckless thing and tackle him head on, causing him to drop the stolen crossbow.
"Cloud, the guards are coming! We have to get out of here." Cloud didn't even register the warning at first between the sounds of crashing as he fought with the stranger and the rush of adrenaline at the satisfying feeling that he was winning.
"Cloud! NOW!" He was suddenly yanked off the black haired man and thrown toward the exit of the bank. "Let's go already!" Flame pushed him out and helped guide the confused blonde away from the bank.
Once he got his bearings back, he remembered something. "Wait! What about the money? That jerk's going to get it." He turned to go back, but there was no need as the man in question was following them while the guards fired their crossbows at them.
"Damn it." Cloud could only follow Flame as he led them between buildings, winding around until they lost the guards and could rest in the shelter of the back of a house. The strange man had followed them the whole way. He was catching his breath along with them.
Once he got his breath back, Cloud thought of all that money he had…and lost. And the reason for this was right in front of them. He felt his blood start to boil in a way it hadn't in a long time, especially not over a job like this.
He lunged forward and pinned the mystery thief against the wall, making sure that he couldn't move an inch. "You idiot!" he snapped right in front of his face. "We lost over a million gold and it's your fault."
"Sorry, I didn't get a schedule. Was it your turn to rob the bank this week?" the black haired man asked in a chillingly calm voice.
Cloud felt a vein throb on his forehead. "You-"
"Cloud, it was a misunderstanding. Let's just forget about it." Flame grabbed his shoulder, but he shrugged it off and turned to him without loosening his grip on the other man.
"Forget about it, Flame?" he spat in disbelief. "It'll be weeks before we can try again now thanks to this clown."
"Cloud? Flame?" the man chuckled quietly. "I think the real clowns here are you two."
Cloud turned back to look at him. "You talk a lot for being pinned against a wall."
"Who are you, anyway?" Flame asked suspiciously. "I've been in this city for what seems like forever and I've never seen you before."
The man suddenly twisted and easily got out of Cloud's grip, but he didn't run. Instead he did a slight bow as if he performed a complicated trick and removed the cloth he had used as a mask, revealing his crooked smile. "Name's Blake. I was just in the neighborhood and thought I could stop by for a quick steal. But as my luck would have it, looks like you two beat me to it."
"Actually, it's three." At that moment, Rose stepped around the corner of the building and strolled over to stand beside Cloud with her arms crossed and her chin held high.
Blake snorted. "Of course, why not add a whore to a band of misfits?"
Rose stepped forward with her fists clenched, but Cloud walked in front of her before she could try anything stupid. As much as he hated to admit it, this guy would be more than capable of taking care of himself; even against all three of them.
"You should get out of here before we personally remove you ourselves." Cloud warned in what he hoped was a threatening voice.
Blake shrugged and began to back away. "No need for more violence. I was on my way out anyway. I hear Varrock has more valuables in it than this dump of a city."
"Be sure you stay there once you get there." Rose said.
Blake stopped moving and raised an eyebrow. "And what can you do if I don't?"
Cloud walked until he was level with Blake, his frowning face only a couple inches from his own. "We'll make sure you never do it again. This is our territory. You'd be wise to find your own and stick to it."
Blake huffed, "And who are you to decide whose territory is whose?"
Cloud chose his next words carefully. He said them boldly and proudly and it felt…right. As if he was meant to say these words.
"This is the Falador gang and we don't tolerate strangers. If we ever see your face here again, we'll kill you on sight. Remember that. And you can pass that message on to any other thief you come across."
Blake didn't say anything. He only stared at him with angry brown eyes, but Cloud didn't back down once. Finally, after what seemed like centuries, Blake gave a slight nod, turned, and walked away without looking back.
Cloud nodded more visibly and smiled. That had felt so right. Suddenly remembering Rose and Flame, he turned around to meet Rose's half impressed expression and Flame's gaping jaw.
"Dude! That was awesome!" Flame slapped a palm over his shoulder and shook him. "I thought that guy was going to piss his pants." He crowed.
"Yes, I guess that was pretty impressive." Rose smirked at him. Her straightened black hair was already turning to its frizzy state and looked like it had been ruffled around, most likely by the guards.
"Cloud." The red head's astonished smile turned serious, to Cloud's surprise. "I've been thinking about this a while now. I think you should be the leader of this gang."
Cloud took a step back. "Me? Leader? But…you were the one that started this gang." He spluttered.
He shrugged. "Yeah, but I know nothing about being a leader. I can't think far ahead or come up with elaborate plans. And I sure as hell wouldn't be brave enough to face that guy like you just did. It has to be you."
"What about me?"
Flame and Cloud snapped their heads to look at the barely dressed black haired girl, trying to hold back their laughter in the process. She could only glare at them with her green dragon scale eyes.
"I guess it's settled then." Flame clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "I don't know about you two but I'm starving."
Cloud laughed. "You're always starving. You two go ahead. I'll be right behind you." After the two left, he leaned against the wall and allowed it to sink in what just happened.
He was the LEADER of a gang. How had he gone from taking care of his dying sister to controlling a band of 'misfits' that steal for fun? Was this really his purpose?
Guess he'd just have to find out.
Cloud stared across the city of Falador. He relished the feeling of being able to look down at the people of this city and pretending they were ants. He had only recently discovered the ladder inside the general store that led a very far way up. It was now his favorite place to be when he needed to clear his head or just relax. He liked the wind blowing through his spiky blonde hair and the warmth of the sun as it set or rose.
It had been a week since he'd been named leader and he loved every minute of it. Though it was a big responsibility, he was used to having that by now. Irit's lab was coming along quite nicely. Cloud often heard him up late at night mixing potions and mumbling to himself. He had to admit, he was happy for the old man. It must be a good feeling to have a purpose after being rejected for so long.
Cloud twitched. His train of thought was interrupted by a quiet noise on the wind. He listened harder for it, but didn't hear it again. He deemed it part of his imagination.
Rose was trickier to interpret how she was coming along. Some days, out of nowhere, she would pin him against a wall and start kissing him and then they would have a quick fling. But that was as far as their 'relationship' would get. They didn't even talk about it afterward. Cloud was still pondering if he liked it this way or not.
Flame had discovered a barred up hatch that was right in their tunnel. He was sure that it led to the kitchen in the Falador Castle. Cloud hoped he was right. If it was true, they would be set for food for life. Not to mention easy access to the inside of the castle AND a second escape route.
Cloud jumped to his feet. There was the noise again, this time clear as day. It was a tiny sound; he could only just hear it. It sounded like a sobbing girl.
Should he get involved?
Common sense told him to ignore it and get back to his gang, but curiosity made him climb down the ladder, making sure to pull his hood over his face, and go out the back entrance to Falador. He let his ears guide him and found himself in the charred woods where Flame and he first found Irit.
Once trudging through the foul smelling dead woods, he could clearly hear the sobbing. It sounded scared and full of pain. He walked until he passed one more burnt tree and found himself in a small clearing with a crying girl on a large rock.
Half of her face was covered by her hands as she cried and wavy, blonde hair secluded the rest of her head from his view. She wore a white, frilly blouse and a long white skirt. Her sobs were high pitched and Cloud wondered if something was wrong with her voice.
He took as step forward and she suddenly looked up with a gasp. Cloud could now clearly see her hazel eyes under her red stained face. She moved back, scrambling over the rock as she tried to get away.
He remembered the hood and silently cursed himself. He must look like a murderer to this girl right now. He swiftly pulled it down and put up his hands. "It's ok. I'm not going to hurt you." He attempted to soothe her.
She stopped her frantic scrambling and she stared at him, still sniffling. Cloud felt a wave of pity for her, though he wasn't quite sure why.
Unconsciously, he got down on his knees and moved slowly toward her as if she were a frightened deer. When he was close enough, he slowly took her hand and said, "See? I'm a friend."
She didn't react, only sniffled more. Fresh tears began to appear in her pretty eyes.
He got up beside her and gently wiped off the tears on her cheeks. "Hey, it's ok." He whispered to her. "A beautiful girl like you shouldn't cry."
To his delight, a stray smile appeared on her pink lips. She blinked the last tears away, which he helped wipe off with his palm, and her sniffling subsided.
He smiled widely. "There we go. Now I can really see that pretty face." He brushed away stray bits of hair. He felt his heart pounding in his chest. Somehow, just in her innocent eyes and her blonde hair, she reminded him of his precious baby sister. "What's your name, darling?" he asked quietly.
She blinked up at him and her mouth opened to squeak out, "M-Melody."
Cloud chuckled at the tiny squeak. "A pretty name for a pretty girl," Melody's smile got bigger and he felt his heart swell up even more. "Why are you out crying?"
Her smile left and she looked down at the rock they sat on. "I…I do not have anywhere to go. I was exiled from my old home and no one will help me. Then I got lost in this scary place and I did not know what to do." Her lip started to quiver again.
Cloud looked at her carefully. Her voice was fairly high and she spoke as if English was a second language for her. She didn't combine her words at all. "Where are you from?" he prompted.
"I am from Zanaris," Her voice was gradually becoming stronger and more confident, "home of the fairies."
Cloud did his best to hide his amusement. He didn't think he had ever heard of a place like that. Then again, he didn't know a lot about the places in Runescape and he desperately didn't want to think this girl was crazy.
"So…you're a fairy?" he asked as seriously as he could.
"I am a half-fairy." She corrected.
"Right…half…fairy." He started to wonder if this was a good idea after all. "So, you can fly or something?"
A small, high pitched giggle escaped from her throat and made him jump slightly. "No. I have the body of a human, but the soul of a fairy."
Cloud could almost believe it. The way she acted, the complete innocence in her eyes, it all seemed very fairy-like. But was there really such a thing?
"It is because of my appearance."
Melody jerked him back into the present. "What?"
"Why I was exiled. Also because I am half-blood, they do not see me as pure. I know they would not say it out loud, but I believe they think of me as…"
"A freak?" Cloud offered.
"What?" she asked confusingly. "I was going to say odd."
A candle was slowly lighting itself inside Cloud's head. "So you're a misfit?"
"A what?" Cloud assumed this girl didn't know a lot of insults or hurtful words. Perhaps she was telling the truth after all.
"So you're different?" Cloud corrected his wording.
Melody nodded. "Yes, I suppose I am."
Cloud glanced down at her white as snow clothes and her could-do-no-harm aura around her. Was this really the right thing he was doing? How could he be sure she wouldn't get eaten alive?
He couldn't.
"I am the leader of a gang in a city very close to here. There are three other people in it that I promise will not lay a hand on you. We can provide you protection and maybe give you a permanent place to stay. If you want." He added quickly.
"A gang?" Melody still looked confused.
"A…thieving gang." He told her reluctantly. He didn't know why he wanted her to join so much. It wasn't like he felt any romantic connection to her. She seemed too innocent and young for that, even though she was probably about his level.
"You steal things?" she started to back away again.
"Yes but we try not to hurt other people." He explained rapidly.
"How do I know you do not just wish to rob me?"
He laughed. "Rob you for what? The clothes on your back?" she snagged onto her loose blouse and he instantly regretted his word choice. "I'm joking."
"Why would a thief want to help me?" Cloud could understand her skepticism. Why WOULD a thief want to help anyone except for his own hidden motive?
"I'm not exactly a normal thief." He half-laughed dryly. "I started out only needing to take things to survive…and to help someone else survive."
Melody still looked confused, but she didn't press him for details. Instead, she placed a warm hand on top of his and offered a smile. "I believe that you have much good in your heart. The fairy in me can sense these things."
Without really registering it completely, his eyes started to get glassy. "You think so?"
"Yes. I would love to come with you to your gang." She stood up and offered him her hand, which he gladly took.
"Great!" he started to become chipper again. "You'll learn to love it. Oh, I'm Cloud by the way."
Melody giggled again, a sound Cloud believed he could get used to. "It is very nice to meet you, Cloud. Thank you for your generosity and for your friendship when I had none." She gave a quick bow.
"Don't thank me yet. Wait until you meet the rest of the gang!"
"Everyone, unroll another bedroll because we have a guest tonight!"
Rose, Flame, and Irit all looked up in surprise at the announcement from their leader. Cloud stepped aside and revealed Melody, who looked very much less like a thief and more like a fish out of water. Most of the red on her face had faded and she looked much more presentable, though when it came to being a thief, being clean-cut wasn't exactly a requirement.
Rose nodded and went back to her book that she was reading, not even bothering to get up. Irit and Flame, however, instantly got up from where they were sitting.
Irit reached the pretty blonde before Flame, and the red head frowned in disappointment and crossed his arms like a spoiled child. The healer took her small hand and kissed it. "A pleasure to meet you, my dear. What's your name?"
"Her name's Melody." Cloud answered for her. "She's a new addition to our team. Mel, this is Irit and-"
"I'm Flame!" the man in question pushed the older healer roughly aside to pop in front of her, earning a fairy-like giggle from Melody. Irit rolled his eyes and went back to his lab.
Flame's eyes lit up and he smiled the biggest smile Cloud had ever seen from him. "You have a cute laugh."
She blinked shyly at him and said in a soft voice, "Thank you." After a moment's hesitation she added, "I like your hair."
His face turned as red as his hair. "Thanks. I spend a lot of time, well, NOT combing it." This enticed another squeak of laughter. He looked over the girl's shoulder at Cloud. "I like this one. She laughs at my jokes."
"Laughing at things you say that aren't even remotely funny don't make her any kind of qualified thief I know." Rose mumbled from the back of the room, turning another page.
"She'll learn." Cloud promised them. "I see a lot of potential for her. She's an outsider like us."
"How the hell is SHE an outsider?" Flame asked in genuine bewilderment.
"Doesn't matter." He said as Melody opened her mouth to answer. "In this gang, pasts are in the past."
Flame shrugged. "Fair enough. Can I help her in bed-I mean SETTING UP her bed now?" he corrected himself in a flurry of panic and laughed nervously. "Slip of the tongue." He told her, though she didn't seem to notice the slip up.
Cloud smirked. It appeared the newest member of the gang already had a number one fan. "Sure, as long as she's ok with it."
She nodded and smiled. "Yes, please-oh!" Flame wasted no time and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her to the side of the room where they kept the spare bedrolls. Her feet scrambled to find footing and along the way she kicked over a bag. Cloud didn't think anything of it until she looked back saying; "I am so sorry-oh, whose stuffed teddy bear is this?" she picked it off the ground and gave it a squeeze.
Cloud was trying to decide what was worse. The way his skin crawled as someone else touched the last thing he had left of his sister or the surprised faces of his companions.
"I never saw that before." Flame walked over to stand beside her. The thoughtful look on his face turned to Cloud. "Hey, dude. Isn't this your bedroll?"
A snort from Rose made fighting back the blush on his face increasingly more difficult. "Aw, does little Cloudy need his teddy to sleep at night?" she asked in a baby voice, putting her thumb in her mouth and sucking it as she did so. Flame laughed loudly at this.
Cloud did his best to compose himself. A real gang leader wouldn't run outside and hide in a dark corner like he desperately wanted to. He had no reason to be ashamed and he would prove it.
He stomped over to Melody and grabbed the bear out of her hands. "That's not mine." He told them as he put it back into his bag. "It belonged to someone I cared about a lot." Before he closed the bag, he paused to stroke the bear with his thumb sadly.
"Chill, man." Flame said after the laughing fit wore off. "She's just messing with you. If you have attachment issues, we won't judge."
Cloud frowned and closed the bag, shoving it into a corner. "I mean what I said. Weren't you supposed to be helping Melody with setting up a place to sleep?" he snapped crossly.
"I am very sorry." Melody whimpered. "I did not mean to upset you so much."
Cloud could only stare at her. What was she talking about? Sure there was a whirlwind of emotions going on inside of him, but he was doing a good enough job of hiding most of it. Yet she acted like he was close to bawling.
"It's fine." He managed a chuckle. "It's just a dumb misunderstanding."
She didn't say anything, only followed Flame to the bedrolls.
Cloud wondered if the blonde knew more about him than she said. She already said that she could tell he had a good heart, but could she sense more than that? If that was the case, how could she respect him as a leader if she could see past the calm and into the turmoil?
Would he ever truly escape his past?
~To be continued~
I had no choice, I had to cut it in half again. You guys have waited long enough and I'm getting tired. Now that school's started again, juggling this along with homework has been a challenge. But I promise you guys, I won't give up. This story will finish very soon, so help me God.
Thanks for the patience and the love as always. The memories WILL end in the next chapter and then the fun really starts.
Review!