Thieves United
PARIS, FRANCE:4:26 PM
Back in Bentley's lab, the turtle was monitoring his hidden cameras closely. He could see all of the police officers and duty, and when he saw that Sly was one of them, he almost had a heart attack. He had called Sly that evening, and yelled at him to get his black and grey tail down to the hideout. The moment Sly walked into the lab, Bentley began to pelt the raccoon with paper balls. Why? Good question.
"What kind of idiotic stunt are you trying to pull?" Bentley yelled. Sly gawked at him, only blinking when another paper ball hit him in the forehead.
"Idiotic stunt?" Sly asked. "What are you -?"
"I'm talking about guarding the Diamond at the museum!" Bentley screeched. Sly was amazed the turtle didn't bust a lung...
"Hey," Sly said, knocking aside another one of Bentley's paper balls. "Look, I think this could be a good thing. You'll have inside access to the plans of the police through me. And maybe we can come up with a good plan of our own. Harry Westwood said that it would take a few days to deactivate all of the security, but I'm sure you could do it within a matter of hours."
"Well…" Bentley said slowly, aiming to throw another paper ball at his friend, but he lowered his hand, pondering. "Yes, I suppose I could do it within a few hours. Maybe two?"
"Good," Sly said, holding his hands in front of his face so he could catch Bentley's next paper ball when he threw it. "So, we will make a plan. If I can get the other officers patrolling to leave just before I steal the diamond, we'll be set."
"Don't forget," The turtle said, turning his wheel chair a little so he could wheel himself away. "We still have to get the last Element stone."
"Ah…" Sly said, his ears drooping. "I forgot… We can't get it after we get the diamond though, because once that's gone, security around the last stone will be just as tight. They may even have floor sensors everywhere!"
"Okay, okay," Bentley said, holding up a hand to silence Sly. "New plan. Merah will help us anyway, so maybe we can steal the last Element first, and then wait until the security for the diamond is down."
"That'll just make it all harder," Sly said flatly. Bentley raised a brow.
"I thought you enjoyed a challenge?" The turtle asked, crossing his arms pointedly over his chest. "Or has police life really changed the Sly Cooper I once knew?"
The raccoon surveyed his friend for a while, and then smiled, giving a chuckle and clapping the turtle on the back of his shell.
"You win," He said, still grinning. "I surrender. I'll follow your plan."
"Good," Bentley said, smiling back.
"Thanks pal," Sly answered truthfully. "Really. For everything. You're helping me find myself again."
"It's the least I could do," Bentley replied. "Now let's get this plan cooked up."
Bentley started to wheel away to his computer again, but then he stopped, and threw the last paper ball at Sly, who caught it. He grinned, and wagged a stern finger at the turtle.
"Nice try," The raccoon said, chuckling at the smirk his friend gave him.
Mishelle paced around the office she was sharing with Harry while they were in Paris. The Parisian scenery had gone completely unnoticed to her so far. It's not like she cared all that much, anyway. She just had one thing on her mind and one thing only.
Merah Ringo.
"C'mon, Mishelle," Harry said, lounging back in his chair and drinking a cup of black coffee. He loved black coffee... "Take a break. This'll be over soon."
"It's not over until I have that little slut locked up," Mishelle snapped, shooting Harry a glare, but he had grown used to the icy looks. He didn't even notice them anymore.
"Give the Merah thing a rest--"
"I am not giving the Merah thing a rest!" Mishelle yelled, getting right in the Arctic fox's face. Harry just idly sipped his coffee, looking the black feline right in the eye. "Until she is in jail, I won't be easy going with this, Harold!"
"How do you know she's even in France, anyway?" Harry asked, idly sipping more coffee again. "And even if she is in France, she could anywhere! Marseille, Lyon, Nantes, Dijon…"
"She's in Paris, West," Mishelle replied, resuming her pacing. "I know she is. Her 'beau' practically told me she was here."
"Beau?" Harry asked, sitting up strait. He watched Mishelle pace, confused. "What beau?"
"Robin Hood Mace," Mishelle replied with a cunning smile. "I talked to him yesterday."
Harry set his cup of coffee down on the desk with a sigh, and put his head in his hands. He shook it for a minute, and then got to his feet, irritation written plainly on his face.
"Mishelle, you can't just go around suspecting people!" He said loudly. "What proof do you have?"
"I suddenly need proof?" Mishelle demanded, getting in Harry's face again. "What happened to your trust in me?"
"I do trust you, Mishelle," Harry said, lowering his voice. He didn't want to make her upset, but she was really taking this way to far. "But… honestly, a Detective having a relationship with a thief? It's just… unnatural."
"Unnatural?" Mishelle asked in a whisper, narrowing her bright green eyes at him. Then, with a huff, she stomped out of the office. Harry sighed. And then he relaxed back onto his chair, scooping up his cup of coffee.
"She'll be back soon," He muttered aloud to himself.
Merah was in the lab again with Sly, Bentley, Penelope and Murray. Sly was prepping her about the next heist and she was listening carefully, but didn't look all that enthusiastic. Surprising, considering the fact she was scared out of her mind of Mishelle and the fact that the black cat was here.
"So," Sly was saying, obviously really excited. "I'll get the other guards to leave, and while I'm on duty, I'll steal the last--"
"No." Merah said flatly. Sly raised a brow.
"No?" He asked slowly. "Why not?"
"Because it wouldn't look good on your record if something was stolen while you were on duty," She said flatly. "Besides, your criminal record would be against you, and you'd be the first suspect."
"Only Carmelita and Robin know I remember being a thief," Sly pointed out. Merah shrugged.
"That doesn't matter," She said. "People will be suspicious of you. So it's better to steal it when everyone knows you're no where near the museum."
Sly looked at Bentley. "Where'd you find her again? She's good; I'm starting to like this girl. Or maybe I'm just rusty…"
"All of the above, Cooper," Merah said with a flirty smile. He actually laughed in response.
"Well," Bentley said in obvious disproval at their 'flirty chit-chat', pushing his glasses farther up his nose. "Since Sly's plan is blown out the window, I think I'd like to re-do this little 'plot' on my own. Give me a day's time, and I say we could maybe get the last Element by tomorrow night."
"Seriously?" Sly asked. The turtle nodded. "Awesome. Don't work yourself too hard, buddy."
"I never do," The turtle answered, wheeling himself over to his computer. Sly wagged a stern finger at Penelope, who hadn't said a word so far. She was too busy glaring at the voluptuous-looking Merah, who was wearing her skin-tight black body suit again, and looking idly at her nails.
"Make sure Bentley gets some sleep every once in a while," Sly told Penelope, finally making her pull her icy glare away from the female raccoon. "Okay?"
"I will," She said, giving Sly a smile. "See ya."
"Bye," He replied, smiling as she went over to Bentley's side. Murray came up to him then, looking a little worried.
"Sly," The hippopotamus said slowly. "That black cat chick who came from America… do you find there's something funny about her?"
"Whoa," Sly said, looking up at his big, pink friend, not aware that Merah was listening very intently. "You feel that, too?"
"Yeah," Murray replied, nodding. "I was watching the security cameras while Bentley and Penelope were getting something to eat. She's was yelling at you."
"Yelling at me?" Sly chuckled. "She does it all the time, Murray. Inspector Taylor, to me, won't let me have any break time. I'm surprised I managed to get today off to come see you guys."
"There's an article about her on the internet, according to Bentley," Murray continued. "He hasn't read it yet, but it's like a biography, or something, I guess. Her history and stuff."
"Really?" Sly asked, suddenly very interested. "Hmm… I'll have to check that out."
Suddenly Sly's cell phone started to ring, and he pulled it out of his coat pocket, flipping it open, and holding it up to his ear.
"Y'ello," He greeted in a very unprofessional-like manner. His greeting sounded like 'yellow'. He heard Carmelita's laugh on the other side.
"The Chief would be very unimpressed with you if you answered the phone like that," She said. Sly chuckled.
"I figured it was you," He explained simply. "What's up?"
"Has Constable Sly Cooper noticed how long he has been gone?" Carmelita asked on the other line.
"He admits no," Sly said, finding it amusing they were referring to himself in the third person. The thought of Mishelle at the web-site article about her left his mind completely. "But if he were to look at the clock"– he looked around Bentley's lab for a clock. He didn't see one –"only to discover there was no clock, he would have to inquire to his lovely working partner – and girlfriend – what time it was."
"Its quarter to three, Sly," She answered flatly. Sly could hear the blare of a car horn on the other end, and he realized she must be driving. "You've been gone for three hours. And Mishelle is tearing the entire office apart."
"Ooh, goody." Sly said sarcastically. "What's eating her this time?"
"Lord knows," Carmelita replied. "I guess something Harry said. Now she's storming around claiming no body trusts her. This is why I've left the office, as a matter of fact."
"Good," Sly said. "Because I was planning to take you out to dinner tonight."
"Again?" Carmelita asked.
"What do you mean again?" The raccoon asked, putting a mock-hurt tone in his voice. "We haven't been out in weeks."
"Just one week, Sly," She answered flatly again, but he heard the hint of amusement in her voice.
"And seven days too long," He replied. "Early dinner. You come get me by that old run-down Opera house, we'll go out, and take it all from there. What do you say?"
"Be there in half an hour, Ringtail," Carmelita said, and she clicked the line off.
"Fun-filled evening planned from tonight?" Merah asked with a hint of amusement in her voice. Sly flashed a charming grin in her direction, ready for a come-back.
"Almost as fun as the nights you've had this past week with Robin, Miss Ringo," He replied. He saw her flush under her fur.
"That's none of your business!" She screeched.
"Aha!" Sly said, triumphant. "I knew you were the reason Robin was leaving the office early! I was wondering why he started to smell oddly like roses…"
Merah just crossed her arms over her chest, and exhaled deeply through her nose. She wasn't all that happy. Then she turned to Murray, who looked really confused.
"Remind Bentley to give me a call before you guys set out for the heist," She said to the confused hippo.
"Uh," Murray said, scratching the back of his head. "Sure thing, Merah."
"Later," The female raccoon said, and she turned and left the lab quickly.
Half an hour later, Sly watched as Carmelita's car pulled over next to the side-walk in front of the old Opera House. It had been abandoned for at least four or five decades. Once the car had slowed to a stop, Sly went around the front of the car, and slipped into the passenger side, leaning over, and giving Carmelita a romantic, loving kiss.
"What was that for?" She asked softly once she had pulled away slightly.
"I'm saying hello," Sly replied, grinning. "Is that so wrong?"
Carmelita smiled back. "No. I guess not."
"You guess…?" Sly said, kissing her again. After a minute, she pulled away quickly, and put a finger to his lips.
"What happened to going out?" She asked, raising a brow.
"Aww," Sly said in mock disappointment. "Okay. Take us away, Gorgeous."
Dinner and a movie. That's what they had planned. But since both Sly and Carmelita didn't really want to be in the company of other people, they decided they'd rent a video, or just pick one out of the huge collection Sly had at his apartment. Yes, Cooper actually found time to watch dozens and dozens of movies.
After dinner, they drove home to his apartment, and Sly lead the vixen to an elevator so they could get to the fourth story of the building, where his room was. Hand in hand, they walked down the hallway to his room, talking. Sly was actually naming off some of the films he had and could remember off the top of his head. So far, they had agreed on two.
Taking his house keys from his coat pocket, Sly unlocked the door, and welcomed Carmelita inside. It wasn't as bare as her apartment; Sly had more personal items decorating the place, like pictures and plants. Even some stuff he swiped from the Cooper Vault was lined up nicely on the mantelpiece over his fireplace, currently empty of a fire. Carmelita looked about, impressed.
"It's nice here," She commented. "You've got good taste in furniture."
"Cheapest but best-looking stuff I could find," Sly said, closing the door behind him and taking off his shoes and coat. "Anyway… make yourself at home. I'll make some popcorn, get a few sodas, and we can pick out a movie and relax. I'll get a fire going, too."
"Do you want any help?" Carmelita asked. Sly shook his head.
"Go get comfortable on the couch," He ordered, ushering her out of the kitchen and into the living room. "I'll tell you what; you can pick out the movie."
"Hooray," Carmelita said in a joking tone, and she went to the TV to pick out a DVD from the shelf next to it.
About twenty minutes later, the pair was snuggled up on the couch, watching a romance film. A fire was crackling in the fireplace. Neither of them had touched the popcorn; it had been left, forgotten, on the coffee table, along with the sodas.
Sly smiled softly when Carmelita's head found the perfect spot on his shoulder, and he put an arm around her shoulders. Forgetting the movie that was still playing, he directed his attention on her, and kissed the top of her head, making her look at him. She smiled lightly.
"Thanks for dinner, by the way," She said quietly. Sly nuzzled her nose.
"You're welcome," He said, his voice the same level as hers. She kissed him quickly before moving to rest her head back on his shoulder, but he had already claimed her lips again, returning her shy kiss with a deep and loving one. Carmelita moved slightly, so it was easier for her to kiss him back, and her arms found their way around his neck, causing her to be drawn closer to him.
Sly ran his fingers through her hair, caressing her back gently. The shy, small kiss she had given him only a few moments ago caused something greater than either had anticipated. The movie played on, completely forgotten as the two became so wrapped up in each other. Each movement followed the next perfectly, as if they were sharing a conversation they've always wanted to have. Eventually, clothing was discarded around the room, and they found themselves in Sly's bedroom. They each responded to the other's action with an action of their own, taking the act further with each passing minute. The lovemaking continued until they eventually fell asleep in each other's arms on the bed.
Sly wasn't in a good mood the next morning, and Carmelita had a good idea for the reasoning. Their actions last night had been something Sly had wanted to save until marriage, but passion got the better of him, and clouded his judgment. He felt as if he had practically forced it on her because he had started the kissing, and that lead to the rest. She didn't see why he was so upset about it, though. She had wanted it as much as he did, even if he thought the timing wasn't right.
"You can't stay angry at yourself," She said as she dressed. Sly, who had just gotten out of the shower and was wearing his boxers under his jeans already, threw the towel he had used on the bed in irritation.
"Yes I can," He answered. "I didn't think it would go that far."
"Neither of us thought it would go that far," Carmelita replied, and she went up to him, giving him a kiss. "Look, I'm not mad. It was both of us. Not just you. So stop kicking yourself."
"I just…" He sighed. "I never want to hurt you. Okay?"
"Okay," She said, smiling at him. "And you didn't."
"Okay…" He said. He gave her a kiss, returning the one she gave him, and the continued to get dressed. They needed to get to the Louvre for guard duty today, and if they were late, Mishelle would yell at them. Even louder than she normally did.
Throughout the day, Sly had been too distracted with his irritation about what happened to keep focused on his work. He respected Carmelita, and for him to go and do that to her left a bad taste in his mouth. He felt like a dirty old pervert, even though he knew she didn't mind what they had done.
The distraction continued even as he sat in the team van, now off duty, and on their way to the Louvre for the heist. Merah was the first to notice something different in Sly's demeanor , and she had a pretty good idea what had caused it, but she wasn't going to ask him and make sure. That would probably just make him angry, and he deserved privacy.
Merah lead the way through the museum that evening, as Sly was too wrapped up in his own thoughts to really pay attention. Eventually, when he almost tripped an alarm (another factor very unlike him), she confronted him, finally getting a little bit annoyed.
"Look," She said in an undertone. "Do you want to go wait back in the van? Because I can do this on my own."
"Huh?" Sly asked. "Oh. No, I'm okay."
"Try and stay focused, okay, Cooper?" Merah asked. Sly nodded.
"Yeah," He said absently. "Focus…"
"That means staying in the moment, and not getting distracted by whatever it was you and Carmelita were doing last night." She said, poking him in the shoulder to bring him back to reality.
"Hey," Sly warned. "That's my business."
"So keep it your business, and don't give it away by thinking back on it all the time," Merah replied. Then, before Sly could reply with a snide comment, she suddenly gasped when she heard a voice behind them down the hallway, and he shoved Sly in the direction of a pipe that was attached to the wall.
"Climb," She hissed to him, and he obeyed but putting his cane in his mouth, and grabbing hold of the pipe, climbing his way upward. Merah followed behind him just as two people came around the corner.
Mishelle and Harry.
Merah's eyes narrowed at the sight of them, and Sly noticed her suddenly tense up. He looked back at her, and took his cane from his mouth.
"What's wrong?" He whispered. Merah just shushed him. Mishelle and Harry passed below them in silence. It was obvious Mishelle wasn't in the mood for talking, and Harry looked a little bit upset about that. The female raccoon shook her head slowly.
"Come on," She said, jumping down from the pipe and landing lightly on her feet. "Let's find that stone and get out of here before we run into any more officers."
"Agreed," Sly answered, and he followed Merah down the halls at a sprint. Fifteen minutes later, they stopped at an exhibit for Africa, and mounted on the forehead of a Zulu Warrior Helmet was the Lightning Stone. Merah crossed her arms over her chest as she walked up to it, thinking.
"It's gonna be hard to get it out of the helmet," She said. "Do you think you can knock it loose with your cane?"
"Won't that break it?" Sly asked. Merah grinned.
"Remember when I threw the Wind Stone at the guard?" She asked. "Nah, it won't break. Go ahead, don't hold back."
Sly used his cane to whack at the yellow stone embedded in the forehead of the African helmet. After about four or five whacks, it popped free, and Merah caught it before it could hit the floor. She and Sly smiled at each other.
"I was expecting an alarm to go off sometime about now," She said, tossing the stone up into the air and catching it. "I'm relieved an alarm didn't go off, though. Bentley is quite the wiz at taking down security."
That was the cue for the alarm to kick in. Merah's smile fell flat on the floor, and she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Well, isn't this wonderful," She said sarcastically. Sly grabbed her arm and pulled her out into the hallway, only to be greeted by a number of guards chasing them. Much to Sly's horror, one of them was…
"Carmelita…" He whispered to himself. She wasn't supposed to be on duty tonight… why was she here?
"Let's go," Sly said to Merah, making his voice deeper so Carmelita wouldn't recognize it. Merah noticed this, but didn't bother to ask why. She just ran at full sprint along-side him.
Eventually, they came to the area where the Blue Diamond was being held. Merah suddenly skidded to a halt, and tossed the yellow stone to Sly, who had stopped too, looking panicky.
"Take it and go!" She called after him. "I'll hold these guys off. I'll meet up with you."
Sly didn't need telling twice. He ran at full sprint towards the exit. Bentley and Penelope were waiting there for him.
"What happened with the security?" Sly demanded. The turtle was quivering with panic.
"I-I-I-I don't know!" He spluttered, throwing his arms up into the air dramatically. "I must have accidentally tripped an alarm switch, or something!"
"We'd better get out of here," Penelope said. "The guards are coming!"
"Freeze!" A voice yelled, and Sly recognized it as Carmelita's.
"Out the door!" He ordered, and shoved the other two outside. Merah could get out on her own. They had to move. Sly slammed the door shut right as Carmelita started making a run towards them, and guilt gripped his chest tightly.
"I'm so sorry, Carmelita…" He whispered, and then he chased after Bentley and Penelope to the van. What Sly didn't realize was that he had dropped something on the ground. Just as he got to the van, Merah raced towards him, looking thrilled. She had a big smile on her face, but he couldn't see why. They almost got arrested.
"That was the best!" She exclaimed excitedly.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Sly snapped hurriedly, ushering her into the back of the van. "Come on, Murray, drive!"
No sooner than the words left his mouth did the van speed off into the night. Sly hopped into the front seat next to Murray, and he panted.
"That was way too close," He said.
"Hey, we got the stone," Merah said brightly, taking it from Sly's hand. "And we got out alive and un-arrested. We're all good."
"No, we are not 'all good'!" Sly yelled, turning around in his seat to glare at her. "Carmelita was one of those guards! If she recognized me, I'm dead!"
"Take it easy, Sly," Murray said softly.
"Yeah," Merah agreed. "Trust me, she didn't see you. You're home free."
"Technically, there was no way for her to recognize you," Bentley said, trying to make himself calm again. "Unless she saw the cane, but if she did, she would have yelled out your name, wouldn't she?"
"I guess…" The male raccoon muttered.
"Everything will be fine, Sly," Penelope said, patting his shoulder. "It'll turn out okay."
"I hope so…" Sly muttered, setting back down in his seat, and gazing out the window. He, along with everyone else in the van, didn't notice Merah slip something blue, shiny, valuable, and dangerous into a pouch on her belt.
I was scared. I didn't know if Carmelita had recognized me, or if she thought I was just another raccoon thief. She didn't yell out my name at all, like Bentley pointed out, so I'm going to hope and pray that she didn't see me. The last thing I want to do is hurt her. If she ever found out that I became a thief again – even if it was for a short while, or even for a good cause – she would be heartbroken. I never want to do that to her.
We had stolen the last of the Five Elements. Usually, I would feel happy about a successful heist, even if it was a close call. But right now I wasn't. My thoughts were on Carmelita, and how much I hoped I hadn't hurt her. And besides, we still had the blue diamond to steal.
That was going to be hard, especially with my guard schedule, and the other guards patrolling that thing around the clock. I would have to keep on my toes for that heist… unlike tonight.
Throughout these past few heists Bentley has planned, I've considered – many times, actually – to become a thief again. For good. Put down the badge and the gun, and go out and be what my father had trained me to be. What my ancestors had trained me to be. I still, even now, feel as if I let Dad down by becoming a cop. Even if it was for love… Now I'm starting to reconsider.
Had the thief really returned? Even I can't answer that…
End Of:
The Thief Returns
A/N: Well, the major plot is starting to take shape now. MANY things are going to happen from here, and some, I'm not sure if you're going to like, but they've got to happen.
I still haven't had one correct guess about who the major villain is. XD You'll see, you'll see.
Oh, and by the way; thanks to Kit-Karamak for being the editor of this chapter. THANKIES, DUDE! XD
R&R!