For Disclaimer: I do not own Sly Cooper or any of their Characters. Yaoi Fanfiction.

Sly Cooper and the Gang in: Of Mice and Mechs

Leaning around the corner, Mercury looked for any Robotic Guards lurking around the streets. The coast seemed clear. Mercury waved Sir Galleth over, entering the hideout door.

Mercury:"...Guys?"

Mercury kept near the walls, checking the interior. There was no answer.

Sir Galleth:"We have prevailed and escaped the evil Black Tyrant!"

Mercury shut Galleth up, keeping his mouth shut.

Mercury:"Galleth, don't be too optimistic. We don't know whether the whole gang is back already or the Guards found this place."

Mercury let him go, Sir Galleth mumbling as adjusted his helmet.

Sir Galleth:"Thou were the first to speak, Sir Mercury."

Mercury:"Well, I didn't start screaming at the top of my-"

A noise emitted from one of the rooms, creeping their way towards them. Sir Galleth and Mercury looked at a small mouse, running past them, with a piece of cheese stuffed in it's mouth. Sir Galleth laughed, seeing the small mouse leaving through the front door.

Sir Galleth:"See? There's nobody here! That little creature would have left way ahead of any danger!"

Sir Galleth smiled walking up to Mercury, triumphantly slapping him on the back, hitting one of the many metal pieces. Grimacing at the pain Mercury concealed a scream, as he threw Sir Galleth a pained death glare afterwards. Sir Galleth realized his mistake, raising his hands in protection, smiling at Mercury and shrugged.

Sir Galleth:"I... ehm... my bad."

Sir Galleth gave Mercury his widest grin, hoping for forgiveness. Mercury just shock his head, relaxing his clenched fists, as he walked into the next room. Sir Galleth followed a moment later, seeing Mercury work on Bentley's computer.

Sir Galleth:"What art thou looking for in Sir Bentley's apparatus."

Mercury:"I wanted to try to reach one of them on their Binocucom, but it seems they aren't able to pick up at the moment. I also wanted to see, if Bentley left a note or something, but I guess they didn't expect us to show up here before they returned."

Mercury sighed, closing the computer and turned to Sir Galleth. Mercury's staring made Sir Galleth feel slightly uncomfortable, nearly vulnerable, as he looked back into his eyes.

Mercury:"If the Guards can't find them and I can't reach them on their Binocucom, I would suggest we wait. I'm going to relax, until Bentley is here."

Sir Galleth watched Mercury leave, going into the Bedroom.

Sir Galleth:"So what shall myself dost in this time?"

Mercury stretched, laying down from exhaustion.

Mercury:"As long as you don't leave the hideout, do anything you want Sir Galleth. You're a grown up man."

Sir Galleth huffed at the remark, looking around the hideout. He looked at his sword leaned on the table, placing his helmet next to it. The open window caught his interest, as he went over investigating the outside. Some Guards pointing their lamps here and there, nothing really worth while. Sir Galleth felt energized, wanting to exhaust himself in a fight. After all he didn't get to fight any Guards or the Black Knight in the castle. And now he had to just sit tight.

Sir Galleth stood up, feeling the need to stretch his legs. Walking around the room, he looked at Bentley's computer, scratching his goatee in interest.

Sir Galleth:"One is left to wonder, how Sir Bentley operates this machinery. There art so many buttons."

Sir Galleth accidentally hit a program, starting to play music. Frightened he quickly smashed on some other buttons, in hope it would turn itself off. Opening and closing several other files, like the picture folder. Hitting another he flinched, as the volume was maxed out. Sir Galleth quickly shut the device, keeping his hands away, as if it was a device of the devil. Relieved that it stopped, he peeked into the bedroom, checking whether Mercury noticed the commotion. The exhausted raccoon was still lying there, turning every now and then.

Mercury turned on his side, as if directly looking at Sir Galleth, mumbling the entire time. Sir Galleth leaned in the door way, trying to understand what he was saying. He went closer inspecting him from above, just thinking about how weird it was to mistake him for a woman at first.

Sir Galleth:"Indeed weird... what kind of magic would make... but back then trailing down 'her' back towards 'her' nice... No, Galleth it is clearly different. The back, his hips, his nice torso... his legs, the soft hands... his gorge-...nice face... Galleth snap out of it!"

Sir Galleth shock his head, looking at the raccoon. Still missing his hoodie, he looked over his front, trailing up to his head. Sir Galleth looked at his face, as Mercury had formed a very bright smile with his mouth.

-(On the other end)-

Mercury looked at the man staring out the window, hoping he would turn around. As he finally did, Mercury's mouth formed a smile, one of the widest and happiest since a very long time.

Raz:"What's with the smile?"

Mercury couldn't describe his reaction, blushing as he kept smiling at Raz.

Mercury:"I don't know. It just feels like... I haven't seen you for a very long time, Raz."

Raz gave him a questioning look, sitting down on the bed, returning his smile.

Raz:"Did the Doctor or Dexter put something into your drink again? You're acting weird."

Mercury:"No... but honestly, I'm happy to see you..."

Mercury leaned against his back, nudging his shoulder. Raz looked back at his raccoon, his mouth forming a smile. Turning around he pushed him down, looking at him for a moment, as he closed the distance a bit.

Raz:"I'm happy, too."

Mercury put his hands on Raz's neck, pulling him into a kiss. Mercury's smile didn't vanish over the entire duration of the kiss. Gasping for some air, he kissed him again, almost having forgotten the feeling of his soft lips. Mercury wanted to stay in the exact moment, never wanting to leave again. He closed his eyes, using his tongue to explore the other's mouth. Mercury opened his eyes, looking at Raz, a weird surprised expression on him. Mercury wondered what's wrong, moving back just a little blinking a few times.

Mercury looked straight at Sir Galleth, seemingly shocked by what just happened. The realization hit Mercury a little later than Sir Galleth, as both of the let out a surprised 'Eeehh?'. Sir Galleth practically leapt out of his seat, pointing at Mercury.

Sir Galleth:"...What was that...? Thou pullest myself in with thine siren-like whispering!"

Mercury:"How is it my fault, if you creep up on me like that. I obviously had troubled dreams."

Sir Galleth clenched his fist, looking at Mercury.

Sir Galleth:"Again mineself fell prey to thine witchcraft!"

Mercury banged his head in slight anger, looking at him with a frown.

Mercury:"Galleth... for the last time, I am not a witch."

Sir Galleth just stood there, crossing his arms. Mercury felt slightly weird, not feeling like himself, as he felt his fists hurting from being clenched so tightly.

Sir Galleth:"The least thou can dost is excuse thine behavior!"

Suddenly a huge shockwave-like smash hit into the wall next to Sir Galleth, catching both of them off guard. Mercury realized what he just did, leaping up as he went over to the other raccoon. Sir Galleth watched him walk over in slight horror.

Mercury:"Leave. Now."

Sir Galleth was shocked, standing in front of the shut door of the bedroom. Sir Galleth turned away from the horror, hoping the others would return soon. As if on cue, Carmelita jumped in through the window, landing in front of Sir Galleth. It took her a moment to realize, as she smiled, greeting Sir Galleth. She noticed his distressed expression.

Carmelita:"Wha-... Is everything alright? Did something happen!?"

Sir Galleth stood there in silence, pointing over his shoulder, towards the bedroom. Carmelita at first questioning his gesture, went over to the door, banging on the locked door.

Carmelita:"M-... Mercury!? Are you alright? What happened to you guys?"

Carmelita kept banging on the door, trying to open it up. After the futile attempt, she turned to the still weirded out Sir Galleth, who sat down at his sword and helmet.

Sir Galleth:"Witchcraft..."

Carmelita barely understood his whisper, sitting down next to Sir Galleth.

Carmelita:"Sir Galleth? Are you alright?"

Sir Galleth shock his head, but remained silent, looking at the reflection in his helmet.

Carmelita:"What happened in the castle?"

Sir Galleth:"Where are Sly and the others... I think we a facing another problem..."

Carmelita felt a weird tingling going through her, as he spoke with such a low voice.

Carmelita:"They should be back any minute. I just ran ahead, in case you guys already returned..."

Carmelita comforted Sir Galleth, trying to get any information from him on the matter. A few minutes later Sir Galleth most calmed down, as the rest of the squad entered the hideout. They gave the two questioning looks for a minute, before entering the room.

Bentley:"Sir Galleth... if only you are here, does that mean...?"

Carmelita:"No... Bentley he is fine, but he looked himself in the bedroom for some reason. I tried to question Sir Galleth, but all I got out of him since I returned myself was him, stuttering about witchcraft..."

The three guys looked at each other for a moment, walking over to the bedroom.

Sly:"Mercury! Open up... please let us talk... I..."

Bentley grabbed Sly's shoulder, shacking his head. Sly stepped back, letting the turtle try.

Bentley:"Mercury, it's me Bentley. Can you open the door for us?"

The door made a quiet noise, as the hinge was opened. The door slowly creaking open, as Bentley pushed it. Bentley looked around the room, noticing a curled up dark figure in the corner. Mercury sat there, his head tucked near his knees, making him the smallest he can be. Bentley entered the room slowly, slightly frightened. The others wanted to follow, but made a quick halt, as Mercury spoke up.

Mercury:"...only Bentley... please..."

Sly made eye contact with Mercury, noticing his lifeless and unnerving gaze. Bentley nodded back at them, gesturing them to close the door. If someone asked him what Bentley felt right now, it would have to be pure terror. Mercury slowly stood up, steadying himself on his legs. As he crept his way over to Bentley, slowly lit up by the bright moonlight, gleaming through the window. Bentley adjusted his glasses, looking over his form, as he went over to the bed.

Bentley:"Oh... my..."

Mercury turned around, presenting his back to Bentley. Bentley got a little bit closer, his hand softly touching the metal.

Mercury:"Bentley, please tell me you can remove them... I feel different since they are in me..."

Bentley was speechless for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts.

Bentley:"No kidding... I can't imagine how that must feel..."

Mercury glanced back at his turtle friend.

Mercury:"I'm not only talking about the physical aspect..."

Bentley saw the raccoon's self-fearing gaze.

Murray couldn't keep still, constantly wiggling on his chair. Sly looked at the ground, wondering what was going on in there.

Carmelita:"Don't worry, Sly, I'm sure there's nothing wrong. Besides it's not your fault."

Sly gave her a quick smile, thanking her for the comfort.

Sly:"Sir Galleth what happened to you two?"

Sir Galleth:"Well... we escaped the castle after some small incident... once we entered the 'hideout', Sir Mercury... Thee would not believest me even, if shown what mineself saw. After me and Sir Mercury... uhm... we were arguing and something must have happened... because a weird sort of magic smashed into the wall next to me... so is it true? Sir Mercury is a witch?"

Carmelita, Murray and Sly exchanged looks for a second, trying to puzzle the pieces of information together.

Sly:"No, he isn't a witch... or sorcerer... or anything like that, Sir Galleth."

Bentley looked over Mercury, lying there stretched on the bed.

Bentley:"You're saying the Black Knight... wanted to turn you into some kind of Robotic Guard v2.0? How do you know all that?"

Mercury hesitated, searching for a valid explanation.

Mercury:"Once Sir Galleth got me out of my restraints and we got out of the room, I could see a fully functional exoskeleton transported by some Guards."

Bentley's robotic arm held a magnifying glass close to the metal pieces implanted on Mercury's back, allowing him to take a better look at what they are dealing with. Mercury felt Bentley's hand wander over his new metallic spine. Bentley looked at Mercury's red drenched back fur , which felt slightly crusty next to the metal, shuddering at the thought of what Mercury had to go through.

Bentley:"What was it that you meant with the 'physical aspect'."

Mercury:"...I wanted to hurt him..."

Bentley:"Come again?"

Mercury looked at the pillow, hugging it tightly.

Mercury:"Bentley... I felt so angry, as if I really intended to hurt him or worse... I can still feel it..."

Bentley looked concerned at his patient, studying the grasp of the metal.

Bentley:"You mentioned the Black Knight said these are some sort of neurotransmitters?"

Bentley studied them with his keen eye.

Mercury:"Yes, he said something along those lines."

Bentley gritted his teeth, his grasp on his armrest tightening.

Bentley:"Mercury, there is no way we can risk removing them..."

Mercury looked back at him in disbelief. Bentley noticed the cut beneath Mercury's shoulder.

Bentley:"Mercury, what happened to your shoulder?"

Mercury:"Th-... they inserted some kind of chip into it. Bentley, are you saying they are irremovable?"

Bentley raised his hands, signaling him to calm down for a moment.

Bentley:"What did the chip look like?"

Mercury:"I'm going to stay like this...? There's nothing you can do...?..."

Mercury suddenly jumped out of the bed, slamming his fists against the walls. Bentley got slightly nervous, watching Mercury go along the walls.

Bentley:"That's not what I said... I said I don't want to risk removing them right now..."

Mercury bashed the wall again, turning towards the turtle with a grim expression.

Bentley:"Calm down now, Mercury. Just-..."

Mercury charged at Bentley, ready to hit him out of existence. The others charged in through the door, surprising the two of them. Mercury looked at the group standing in the door, his gaze trailing over to the frightened Bentley, lastly looking at his clenched fist. Mercury slowly realized what he would have done, if the others hadn't burst in through the door.

Mercury:"I... I..."

Mercury looked through the group, starting to charge for the exit, but they blocked him off. Seeing no where else to go, he charged through the window. Bentley instantly moved to the window, checking for Mercury. Mercury looked up for one moment, slightly tearing up at the thought, that he would have hurt his friend in such a way. Mercury made a run for it, going off into the distance, only hearing distant shouting.

Bentley:"Wait! Mercury!"

They couldn't believe their eyes, Sly being the first to react.

Sly:"I'll follow him!"

Sly jumped out the window, trying to catch up to the distant figure.

Bentley:"Sly, be careful! Try to find out where he is going, but stay at a distance. He might not know what he is doing!"

Sly nodded, running down the street, following the small droplets of blood.

End of Chapter thirty five.