Disclaimer: Not mine. Tammy's. I only own One Eye.
Summary: How George Cooper became the King of the Thieves
A/N: Sorry this took so long- I was out of town for a week. Thanks to Winna for beta reading.
GGGGGGGGGGGGG
Too tired to check with his Sight, George assumed his ma was in bed as he pulled open their back door. Thankfully his ma had left it unlocked for when he decided to come home.
Walking on his toes, he softly made his way through the darkened rooms to the staircase. Easing himself onto the first stair, he shifted his weight carefully, attempting to avoid a creak. The stair emitted a whispered groan, and he moved on, repeating the process. Finally he reached the top of the staircase. It had taken him three times longer than normal,but at least he had made it up quietly.
He pushed open his bedroom door, eager to throw himself onto his bed- he was exhausted. Unfortunately his bed was already occupied.
Eleni Cooper sat on the worn coverlet, attired in a cotton nightdress and holding a lit candle stub. It was not a welcoming sight.
"Do you know what time 'tis?" she demanded.
He faltered. "Yes-"
"Oh?" she interrupted him. "So you knew it was long past midnight, yet you decided to stay out anyways?" The question held a challenge and George thought carefully before he answered.
"I lost track of th' time, and as soon as I found out, I hightailed it back home. I knew ye'd be worried, and I didn't want that." He cast his eyes downwards, but looked up after a moment to see her reaction.
Eleni's mouth remained stern, but the edges of her eyes crinkled, as if she was holding back a smile. "I don't need the Sight to tell that you're lying." She stood up and set a hand on his shoulder. "Well, you're not hurt, so I suppose there was no harm done. But next time, be home before midnight or let me know where you're going. Elsewise I'll find you myself."
George smiled his thanks and flopped onto his now empty bed.
His ma, however, wasn't finished. She hovered by the door. "Oh. The kitchen table still needs fixing, so I'll be waking you up at sunrise."
He groaned and rolled over, pulling the coverlet over his head.
Eleni let out a chuckle, but her son was already asleep.
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
True to her word, Eleni woke George up as soon as the first hint of light peaked over the horizon.
A hard biscuit clutched in one hand and a hammer in the other, he sat on their kitchen's wooden floor. The table lay in front of him and his ma leaned against the wall, watching him expectantly. He hungrily bit into the biscuit, eating it in two bites. Wiping the crumbs on his dark blue breeches, he picked up a nail.
After he hammered in the first one, he stuck a few between his lips, making them easier to grab. This method helped him keep up a constant stream of work, so much so that he didn't even hear the knocking on the back door over the bang of the tool.
He stopped his work to gather more nails to put in his mouth and heard the mumblings of his mother and someone else. Shrugging, he went back to hammering- he was halfway done fixing the table and he couldn't wait to finish.
A warm hand covered his own, preventing him from continuing. "That was Mistress Kaulao. Her son Cherno is running a dangerously high fever."
George moved his hand away and set down his hammer. Cherno, older than George by nearly four years, had always made fun of the size of his nose. He did not mind that he was ill.
Already Eleni was reaching into the cupboards, collecting various herbs and bottles, packing them tightly in a worn basket. "I must see to him," she told him distractedly. "I'll be back as soon as I can." George rolled his eyes- his ma could be gone anywhere from an hour to three days.
She was almost out the door before she poked her head back in. "Finish the table and keep out of trouble." George scrunched up his face at her, and she did the same before disappearing, door clattering shut behind her.
He stared dejectedly at the wood and nails in front of him. Already the familiar feeling of loneliness was settling in. Suddenly a thought caused him to brighten. He wouldn't have to spend the day by himself- he could go to the Dancing Dove to see One Eye. Thoroughly cheered up, he resumed hammering, his brows furrowed in concentration as he hurried to finish the job.
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Slightly out of breath and sporting several new bruises and scrapes, he arrived at the Dancing Dove. It had taken him a while to find his way- he had accidentally taken a few wrong turns into unfriendly territories, but he had made it in the end.
He reached out to open the door. but pulled back his hand as if the wood burned him. "You don't even know if One Eye is there," part of him whispered evilly. He ignored the voice but he did self-consciously attempt to brush the dirt off of his breeches and strengthen his shirt. He might have even tried to control his unruly brown hair if he didn't think it entirely impossible.
Proclaiming himself ready, George leaned closer to set his hands on the door, but it swung open underneath his palms before he could even push. Stumbling forward, he narrowly missed colliding with a scrawny figure exiting the inn. Trying to steady himself, he grasped at the doorframe.
"What are ye doin'?" a scratchy voice demanded.
Startled, George almost let go and struggled to keep his balance.
"Jumpy little thing, ain't ye?" George narrowed his eyes at the speaker. Tall and wiry, the man-probably a thief if he was coming out of the Dancing Dove- had yellow colored eyes that slightly bugged out of his face. His ruddy chin and cheeks were covered in patches of gray, blonde, and mud brown stubble. He raised both eyebrows at George, making him look even crazier than before. "What are ye doin' outside th' Dove?" His voice was dripping with suspicion and his hands slid underneath his sleeves, probably to grasp at hidden daggers.
George lifted his chin defiantly. "I'm here to see One Eye." He hated to be called little.
The man studied him for a moment longer before finally deciding he told the truth. He smirked, teeth chipped and missing. "What are ye waitin' for then?"
Unnerved but determined, George let go of the doorframe and strode into the inn. The man's raspy laughter was soon swallowed up by the noises of the Dove. Even though it was early in the afternoon the main room was almost full.
He walked around slowly, searching for One Eye and trying not to get distracted. When he completed his second round and One Eye was still nowhere to be found, he slipped into an empty chair directly across from the door. This way, as soon as One Eye walked in, he would see him.
George sat there for a while, watching a game of dagger throwing. There were three different colored concentric circles painted on the wall. Men would stand twenty paces away and throw daggers, trying to get them in the center. As they concentrated, George looked on enviously. It looked like fun, but the only knives he had ever handled had been the carving knives in his kitchen, and even then he had to swipe them out from under his ma's nose.
"Here, lad," a kind voice said as a frosty tankard was set on the table in front of him.
George looked up guiltily. "I don't have any coin." He hadn't thought to bring any money.
The man grinned. Curly brown hair and alert blue eyes, he had an aura of kindness about him. "It's on th' house. I'm the barkeep," he explained. "Th' names Solom."
"George Cooper," George replied instinctively. "But-"
Solom laughed. "Don't worry lad, it's lemonade."
Cheeks flaming, he reached out for the tankard an took a sip. While the dark Dove was cooler than outside, it was still warm and stifling in the summer weather. The lemonade was cold and chilled his insides as he swallowed. Delicious.
Solom waved, and George watched him walk back behind the bar. He took another sip from the tankard. Was Solom a thief? He seemed nice, just as One Eye did. Perhaps not all thieves were the cruel, heartless men that his ma had made them out to be? And even if they were, was that so bad? From what he had seen so far of the thieving lifestyle, it seemed like a lot of fun. At least more fun than running around the Lower City by himself.
His musings were interrupted when he Sensed someone walking up behind him. He set down his drink and closed his eyes. A big blobby shape. Squinting, he concentrated harder. Something tall. A man... One Eye! George excitedly turned around, calling, "One Eye! I was wonderin' when ye'd finally get here!"
The gray-eyed thief grinned. "Nice t' see ye came so soon." He sat down in the chair across from George. Instantly all of George's insecurities were put to rest- his Sight let him know that the man really was glad to see him. "I hope ye weren't waiting too long," One Eye remarked.
Shaking his head, George crossed his fingers under the table. "Not too long," he lied.
"Good." One Eye leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, careful to avoid the half-empty tankard. "How would ye like to have some fun?"
Intrigued, George found himself scooting his chair closer. "What kind of fun?"
One Eye paused before he answered, and the feeling of anticipation mounted. Finally he took in a deep breath before asking carefully, "What say I teach ye how t' thieve?"
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
A/N: Hope you enjoyed part 5. Let me know what you think by reviewing and such. I've already started part 6 and I'll try to get it out as soon as possible. This part was mostly plot filling, but it was getting too long so I didn't want to start writing the actual thief lessons (which are coming..whee!)
So..that's about it. Review and what not. :-)
