Chapter 2: Applesauce

The old man watched the retreating figure of the thief melt into the dark side streets of Paris, feeling a peculiar mix of nostalgia and loss. Destiny was a funny thing, he figured. Cycles were not easily broken, and now he could only hope that the next holder would duplicate, even surpass, his own achievements.

The man knew in his heart that was the right path, but that didn't make it any easier to lose a friend.

He ambled down the upstairs hallway, checking each ransacked room. There was no sign of the second thief. They were even more slippery than the boy, he wagered.

Yes, the ways of the world were certainly peculiar. Maybe he'd calm his nerves with some applesauce.

"You're alive, good." Lila's voice was dripping with the usual irony as she greeted him at the corner of Blanche and Monteau. She was fine, Felix noted. More than fine, by the smirk on her face and her arrival there ahead of him.

So smug. Felix's relief at her safety was outweighed by his irritation. "No thanks to you, Lila."

He tried to stalk angrily past her, but Lila grabbed his wrist, her expression morphing into the picture of regret. "Felix, I'm sorry, okay?"

"For what? For giving me the worse job or for leaving at the first sign of trouble?"

LIla's brows creased as she clung to his arm. "Felix, please. I trusted you with that job and that confrontation because I believed that you'd come back safe. And I was right! Don't tell me we're going to fight over it?"

Felix scrunched his nose, yanking his arm out of her grip.

Lila sighed. "Fine. Come on, I'll show you something that will make you feel better once we're inside."

Their place was the shoddiest of shoddy apartments, a studio with run-down appliances, mismatched stolen furniture and pest-control problems. Still, it was far from the worst place they'd stayed. It had a roof, running water, a fridge that usually kept things cold enough and on good days, and the temperature didn't drop below 10 degrees at night.

Lila emptied her bag onto the flimsy card-table at which they usually ate, inspecting each poached item with practiced diligence. Even though he was still upset with her, Felix got out the spiral notebook they used for record-keeping and copied each item and estimated value without complaint.

She hadn't found anything extraordinary, most of them were costume pieces. The exceptions were a striking, if faded, silver pocket watch and a set of emerald earrings. "With these, we should make rent and then some." She smiled at him, reaching over to lightly pinch his cheek. "If we do have money left, what should I make you for an apology dinner?"

Felix softened, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Something warm for this weather," he mused. "Stew. Do you think we'll be able to afford beef?"

Lila hummed, cradling her chin in her hands. "We can dream, at least." Her eyes moved to his backpack, perched on the kitchen counter. "DId you manage to get anything useful?"

Felix's mind immediately flew to the necklace burning a hole in his coat pocket. Should I tell her about it?

There was something off about it, Felix knew. It was so small, so unassuming, but in the relative darkness of that room, it had called to him. Drawn him in. Felix couldn't figure out why, but his gut told him that this necklace was his.

So, for the first time after years of companionship, he didn't tell Lila the full truth. He instead presented-

"Applesauce!" Lila beamed, swiping one of the cups from the table and inspecting it lovingly. "Do you remember when we used to eat these for snack time at-?"

"Yeah," Felix answered fondly, grabbing two spoons and peeling back the plastic packaging. He took a bite, and his stomach sang. It tasted sweet… like home. His eyelids burned.

Lila stared at him for a moment, spoon poised between her lips, but she didn't ask if he was alright. She already knew the answer. Instead, she sidled up to him and rested her head on his shoulder, taking slow, dainty bites of her applesauce.

Her warmth and closeness calmed Felix considerably, he felt his shoulders relax as they finished the rest of their stolen meal. Hunger and anxiety were replaced with contentment and sleepiness. "We should turn in," he mumbled.

Lila ushered him into bed, brushing a kiss on his forehead and tucking the blanket snugly around him. "Good night, Felix." she said into his hair. "I'm glad you're okay."

A/N: Happy new year everyone, I hope you'll have a good one. This will be the last chapter for a decade (Hahaha). Next one will be up tomorrow.

Please leave a review, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Happy new year.

-cedalodon