A/N: dang it I did it again! Sorry guys, old habits are hard to break… I'd like to give a BIG thank you to those who are still stickin with me here. And for the reviews of course!
Disclaimer: I OWN THE THIEF LORD! Did that get your attention? Good, maybe now you'll pay attention now when I say, I don't own it!
"This is where the old fatso lives," Riccio informed Hornet as they trotted through the hordes of tourists exploring the streets of Venice. The 'old fatso' Hornet had learned, was Barbarosa, the pompous owner of a trinket shop, famous for its priceless souvenirs. Souvenirs, apparently that were supplied by the thief lord. Hornet was clutching a sack containing the last of the goods from the last raid, which she and Riccio would sell to the shop owner. The whole process was very bizarre to Hornet, who had stuck to the simplicity of pick-pocketing.
The very thought of Scipio made the girl both giddy and depressed; it had been nearly three days now since he had run away from her. About two days, 18 hours, and 24 minutes actually, not that she was counting. Was it her fault that Mosca had insisted on buying her one of those cheap, plastic watches?
Luckily Hornet hadn't gone mad yet. She had plenty to keep her busy, including learning her way around the ancient city, a feat alone she felt was impossible to achieve. The boys had also shown her the ropes of the city-- who could be fooled, who could be intimidated, and who could beat you so bad you'd be lucky to wake up before your next birthday. Absorbing this information, Hornet felt that maybe she could survive Venice after all, though she still had much to learn. Today, however, was the first day she had been allowed to come along to Barbarosa's.
Riccio opened the glass door and a bell chimed. The store was somewhat empty at the moment, only a few determined tourists browsed the shelves.
The skinny boy walked ahead of Hornet, tugging at his shirt and straightening, trying to add inches to his five foot height. They rounded the corner, which revealed a ritzy little office as old as the antiques the shop sold. An overweight man with a ridiculously red moustache sat at the desk. Peering into a silver-wrought mirror, he carefully clipped at the moustache. Riccio turned and waggled his eyebrows at Hornet, causing her to stifle a giggle, then leapt up onto the desk.
"Good morning!" he yelled. Startled Barbarosa flinched, and the scissors flashed closed over half of his moustache. The red hairs fell onto the desk, which Riccio, snatched and stuffed into his pocket.
"YOU LITTLE—!" the shop keeper sputtered, clearly furious. Hornet jerked Riccio off the desk just as Barbarosa's fist slammed onto it. Riccio snickered and took a seat in front of the desk. A vein bulging in the shop keeper's forehead made Hornet wonder if he was going to have a coronary right there and then. After a deep breath, Barbarosa regained some of his composure, a slick smile pasted on his face. (A/N: say that 5 times fast, I dare ya) "Tell me you little hedgehog, did you have any reason to come here other than to send me to an early grave?" With a smirk, Riccio plunked the sack down in front of Barbarosa. The fat man's eyes lit up and he dug into the sack greedily.
Hornet, unimpressed with the man, spaced out on the proceedings, thinking once again about Scipio. She would have no idea how to act around him when he came back. Hornet gulped. If he came back. She almost groaned in frustration. When had her life gotten so confusing?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Barbarosa slamming a handful of money on the table. Hornet stared. She had never seen so much money in her life! Riccio cheerfully scooped it into the now empty sack and stood. He bowed, pulled a face, and walked away. Hornet glanced at Barbarosa, who was now banging his head steadily on the desk, then followed Riccio out to the street.
Back at the theater, Hornet collapsed on her mattress, listening to Mosca crowing happily over the money they had gotten. He and Riccio then fell next to her and the three of them passed the time dreaming and discussing about what they would do with the money. Riccio was just detailing his plans to buy the sweet shop nearby when a buzzer went off, alerting them that someone had come in the side door. Riccio stopped mid sentence, and jumped up.
"He's back!"
A/N: thank you, thank you, I love you all!
