My friends and I were thieves and proud to be so. More often than not we got away with it, but we stole more for fun than anything else and never stole anything worth a whole lot. Our favorite things to swipe were comic books. Most of the time, we got away clean and clear with the goods stashed under our jackets or shirts. We made it a point to never hit the same place twice in one month and never more than three times within a period of four months if we could avoid it. The risk of being recognized or caught was too great at that point. New stores, though, were a cause for celebration and testing.

"Distraction."

"Not that plan again, Heero," Quatre said flatly, "Got caught last time we used it."

"That's only 'cause Tall Boy and Short Boy here couldn't keep their cool," I pointed out. Trowa and Wufei scowled.

"Well if you hadn't broke the plan, it woulda worked!" Wufei growled at me.

"Whatever," I said, very little concern or caring in my voice.

"Fighting won't get us anywhere," Heero told us, "Just follow the plan. It's a new store - we'll be in and out in less than five minutes. Don't worry."

"Oh God," Quatre said dramatically, "He said don't worry - you know what that means!"

"Worrying is needed," I answered.

"Just get movin', Duo!"

I glared at Wufei before following Heero into the store. The corner of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street was recently remodeled into a small shop carrying a large assortment of items. Opened up by two new Spanish immigrants from L1, Rico's was a new shop that had what we wanted - comics. And only the best was there. First editions, though locked under glass, were accompanied by later, yet equally good editions on the nearby shelves.

Heero and I entered the store, Quatre closely following. The plan was for the three of us to walk through the isles, browsing as if we were looking for something specific - but not so much as to draw attention enough for one of the store owners to come up to ask if we needed help. When Heero turned down a separate isle, Quatre and I would continue as if we didn't see him turn, and move on to the comics isle. When Heero was holding enough attention, Trowa and Wufei would come into the store, fighting over something to grab the total attention of the store clerks and give Quatre and me a chance to stuff what we wanted into our pockets and inside our jackets and shirts.

It had worked for us before, it would work for us this time.

Quatre and I picked up our pace as we passed the cashier, who eyed us suspiciously. Heero hung back, making sure to glower at the clerk in response to his face toward us.

He turned down an isle and Quatre and I continued to check out the various items along the shelves. The comic isle was a focus of the store, but it also ornamented various household supplies on other shelves. This was clearly a corner store we would be hitting again.

As Quatre and I turned to look at the store's great collection of Marvel comics, Trowa and Wufei walked in the door.

Shoving each other with curses escaping their mouths, I noticed the cashier turn his attention to them, clearly displeased at their behavior.

"Hey! No fighting in here!"

The man walked around from behind the counter and grabbed Wufei's arm, intending to steer him out of the store.

"Hey!" Wufei growled, "Get the fuck off me!"

"No fighting in here! Outside - now!"

"Hey, man," I heard Trowa say, "Let him go!"

Quatre and I stuffed a few copies of X-Men AC and shoved them in our pants, pressing them flat against our backs and under our shirts.

I heard scuffling and peered around the corner of the shelf to see Trowa struggling to get the store clerk off of Wufei. In a last attempt, Trowa shoved his fist into the cheek of the clerk. I heard the sound of his fist meeting the soft flesh of the clerk's face and flinched.

I then watched as Trowa was hurled toward the front door by a fist to the gut. His back slammed into the door handle, slamming into his spine, causing him to gasp in pain.

Heero heard the noise and came out of his hiding place in the next isle.

As Heero made his way toward the clerk, Wufei was heaved in the same direction as Trowa, only he hit the door with enough force to fall outside.

Heero bull rushed the clerk, shoving him to the ground. The man hit his chin hard on the linoleum floor, a cracking sound signifying something had been broken.

The clerk grabbed Heero and hurled him off his back and through the front door. By this time, both Quatre and I had forgotten our assignments and charged the unsuspecting clerk.

The six of us tumbled outside. Heero pushed Quatre and I off of the clerk and began pounding his fists into the man's back. Rolling over, the clerk shoved Heero into the side of the store. A loud grunt escaped my friend's mouth as he was slammed between the wall and his rival.

The four remaining from our group stood still, watching as our friend fought, equally powered, with an adult. A crowd gathered around us, people glad to watch some of the excitement.

Heero landed two strong blows to the clerk's stomach, causing the man to hunch over in pain. He followed with a knee kick to the crotch and a kick at the knee. Once the man had recovered, only taking a few seconds, he charged at Heero, placing two quick punches to his side and one soon after to the face. I saw blood trickling down Heero's face and saw how his lip had been busted open.

The two sat back, staring at each other, breathing heavily, sweat trickling down both their faces.

"You little fucker," breathed the clerk, "I'm ganna kill you."

"Shut up you fuckin' spic!"

I saw the man's face go from red with exhaustion, to purple with rage. He charged again at Heero, throwing his entire weight upon my friend. The clerk pinned Heero to the ground and began settling punches wherever his fists happened to land.

Heero brought up his knee, hitting the clerk again in the crotch. The man doubled over in pain, rolling off of Heero who took the opportunity to land a swift, final blow to the man's face.

I then watched in aw, Quatre, Trowa and Wufei beside me, as Heero walked up to us and motioned for us to leave. He wiped his bleeding lip on the sleeve of his shirt and said nothing as we walked away from the beaten clerk and murmuring crowd. I looked at him, asking with my eyes if he was ok. He looked back, no emotion showing through. He then smiled and let out a little laugh as both of us walked faster to catch up to the others. It was one of the best moments of our friendship.