Hey everyone,
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH BOY! Here we go! this is IT! The chapter I have been waiting for. And what's even better, I get to do this in Sly's POV. I could do it in Carmelita's, but she is not really going to move a muscle – by her own choice – in this chapter, so doing it in Sly's is just way better. And trust me, I plan to have Sly do all kinds of super-romantic things. He is going to sweep her off her feet – without knowing it's really her.
Ha, how fun,

Venquine1990

Chapter 06
One Hour Alone

23rd of June 2007
Urmila's Boutique
Sly's POV

Guru had been the one to wake me earlier in the morning and Bentley and Murray had allowed me a quick peek at my birthday cake. From what I was able to see from a distance and from behind a semi-transparent curtain, it looked to be shaped like Carmelita's beautiful face or something like that. This possibility had already made this birthday the best I had in years. The team had left a little before me as they needed to deliver the cake to the party location.
They had traveled by van, while I took to the streets to make sure I would get there on time, but that there would be a few minutes between their arrival and my own. And as usual when Urmila has my friends and me over, the warehouse part of her boutique is entirely abandoned as all her warehouse stuff has been moved to a building nearby and her other staff is busy in the store, the beauty salon or the fashion runway where the latest creations are stalled out.

Urmila herself, in all her wondrous serpentine glory, is waiting for me in front of the door to the room we usually hang out in when we don't meet with her in her secret office. And yet as I head over to give my beloved sister a big hug, my eyes spot something orange, tan, black and blue standing in the room. I turn my head and my eyes widen. I know Murray thought he had seen something that resembled Carmelita, but I had really grown the belief that Bentley was right.
"I see someone has spotted their birthday gift." Urmila giggles and while a huge grin grows on my face I turn to her and mutter: "You didn't." But the cobra retorts: "And why not, Sly love? You are always so wonderfully descriptive of her gorgeous form, you request me so often to make something for her and I really just want you to be happy. Why not then create a model that will help me ensure I create perfect designs for your beloved Inspector?"

Amazement, glee, joy, love and gratitude almost overwhelm me as they surge through my form and I grab the cobra by her incredibly slim waist and hold her above my head as I shout: "YOU – ARE – THE – BEST – SISTER – EVER!" Urmila giggles loudly and I pull the beautiful serpent close in a loving and grateful hug. This makes her laugh even harder and while she shortly wraps her tails around my leg, she then pulls away and says:
"Alright, alright. Enough, birthday boy. The model itself wasn't just my gift to you." My eyes bulge and Urmila whispers: "Non, for your birthday, you get one hour entirely alone with it. No Bentley, Murray, Guru, me or anyone else. Just you – and her. Enjoy, Mon Ami." It doesn't happen often, but I am gaping at the serpent as she winks at me, turns on her axis and walks over to disappear through another door.
But before she can, a thought occurs to me as I gaze at the statue instead. "Ehm Urmila?" My sister in all but blood turns to me and I ask: "No offense meant to you or your – incredible creation, but – how mobile is this model?" A huge happy grin adorns the snake's face, which strangely enough confuses me, but then she says: "Very mobile, Sly. I made absolutely sure that her body moves just like that of the actual Inspector. Courtesy of a few videos Bentley sent my way."

"Bentley knew? I thought he was under the belief that – wait, did he lie to me?" I think to myself, but then Urmila asks: "Are you really going to stand there, Sly? Come on, tic-toc, tic-toc. You're wasting your hours' time." And instantly I dash into the room I am next to and close the door behind me. And a feeling of amazed glee fills me up from within when I realize that I really am alone in the room with a life-sized model of the vixen of my dreams.
I slowly walk over to where the statue is set and my eyes drink in every detail. Not just her amazing beauty and how well Urmila managed to replicate it, but the stunning outfit that she is wearing. The shirt is similar to mine, but then a dark reddish brown. There is a midnight black jacket covering a part of her shirt. And unlike me, the fox wears a set of jeans that are also the same reddish brown as the shirt with a black belt at the hips.
The belt holds two holsters, obviously meant to give Carmelita more than one bit of space to put her trusty Shock Gun into and the belt buckle really makes me grin. It's the Cooper Symbol, but then with Carmelita's eye and hair color, the top being chocolate brown and the bottom being a dark midnight blue. The statue wears a pair of boots and just by the sight of the soles, I am sure that, if she was really wearing them, Carmelita would be able to sneak up on anyone.

"Well, expect for me, I guess. I worked way too hard to attune my senses to her presence." I think to myself with pride. I walk around the statue and notice that the hair, while it actually looks to be made of real hair, is tied down, unlike the loose way that the Inspector usually just lets it wave behind her. "Makes sense, makes sense. With her hair tied up, she'd be less likely to be spotted. Much saver, much saver indeed. Perhaps I should suggest this to Carmelita next time we meet."
I mutter as I finish my walk around the gorgeous piece of art. I take another look and notice a few things that really amaze me. Carmelita has one hand on her hip – a sight I am very happily familiar with – and her other hand up, yet her fist doesn't look like it normally does if she were to use her Shock Gun. Instead, I would almost venture the guess that she is supposed to hold some kind of cane or other kind of long-shaped weapon.

I raise my eyebrow at this, yet it also deeply amuses me as I think: "You were really going for the what if Inspector Fox joined your gang style, weren't you, sis? Gotta say, I'm seriously –." I falter as suddenly my senses do indeed pick something up. I sniff deeply and focus on the scents around me. A very, lovingly familiar scent is actually coming from the statue and I close my eyes and move closer, taking a deep whiff at her hair and neck.
"No way, even her shampoo and her perfume. I know I described those scents plenty of times, but – she got them exactly right." I whisper, my awe and amazement for Urmila's dedication raising another notch. I remember what Urmila told me and think: "Am I really going to waste my hour just being amazed at how brilliant my sister is?" Instantly I shake my head and smirk as I say: "Absolutely not. I am going to do what Urmila told me to. I am going to enjoy myself."

I remember that my sister told me that the model can be moved like it was a regular body of a person and quickly decide to test this. I put my hand on top of the one that Carmelita has raised up and apply pressure to her fist, which closes as I do. My grin expands and I turn from it, to looking her into her gorgeous brown eyes and then at one of the many beautiful aspects of her form that I have always admired, even if from a safe distance.
"I definitely get why Urmila put this much work in fixing the hairstyle the way it is, but – she knows just fine how much I have longed to brush those long gorgeous locks myself. Heh, might be a bit of a waste, but –." And while I know that this is just a statue, I make sure to grab the waist at a respectable height and in a caring way. I lift it up and my eyes widen as the weight is almost eerily similar to when I get to hold the real Carmelita in my arms.

"I swear, I am going to find a way to thank her for this." I whisper to myself as I move the statue over to a lush seat a few feet away from where it was standing. I gently push the statue down into the chair and make sure that her arms are down, her hands now folded in her lap. I then move back and I love the fact that Urmila actually left me a comb, brush and several new hair clips and other things on a small table beside the chair.
I turn to the statue and while I make sure to take every precaution I can, I pull the gorgeous matt golden bands out of Carmelita's hair and undo the braid that is between two of the bands. I then find a seat of my own and gently start to run the brush through the long, beautiful strands of hair. And thanks to the braid, there are indeed a few knots for my brush to unravel, which just makes the whole experience even better.
I work through every last bit of her long hair and while I do, I think to myself: "Statue or not, I might as well pretend that this is the real Inspector Fox." And so I start to softly mutter into the air before me. "Your hair has always been so beautiful, Inspector. It always made my day to see it fly in the wind behind you as you chased me. I seriously don't think you have any idea what affects you have on me, regardless of how often I try to tell you through compliments."

I don't know why, but I feel like holding a moment silent. Then I grin and think: "Am I getting into this imagination thing where I pretend to wait for Carmelita to respond?" I shrug and feel like enough time has passed, so I just continue. "There have been so many times I would come back from a heist and wish you were there with me. That you would seat yourself down like I just did and that you would let me brush all the knots out of your hair. That treating you like that would help you unwind after a hard day of running and exercising."
I sigh and mumble: "I know I give you a hard time, my love. But that's because I know you, I know that you – above anyone else – can rise to the occasion. I know you have talents within yourself that, I don't think even you realize you have. And I want to help you bring those out. I want to help you develop those skills, train them and master them. I want you to be the best you that you can be. Because I know that, even after all these years, there is still so much more that you can learn, that there is still a better Carmelita Fox somewhere in there, waiting to be let out."

I keep my focus on her hair as I know that otherwise I would wrap my arms around her form and hold it close against my own. But I want to keep my focus on the task at hand, even if it's obvious that there are only a few knots left. And yet, while I resist the urge to hug the gorgeous statue, I still mutter: "I can't wait to see that, Inspector. To see just how far you can really still grow, as a person and as the most beautiful being in all the land."
The last knot gives way to the brush and I switch it for the comb, while grabbing the few hair pieces with my other hand. I swiftly and deftly redo the braid and put the hair clips in to further assure that the hair remains in place. I clasp the golden hair bands around her locks, one at her shoulders the other just above her hips. I twist the tips at the bottom of her hair around my finger and twirl that to create a nice swirl there.

I step back and a huge grin of satisfaction adorns my face as I feel like I did an even better job than Urmila did beforehand. Then I wonder: "Did she purposely not try too hard so I could do better?" And because I know my sister, I'm already willing to bet that I'm right. Then my eyes spot something else that intrigues me, until I realize how the two objects are connected. Several sets of roller skate wheels are lying next to Urmila's tablet, of which I know the password.
The wheels have a click system attached to them to make them capable of being attached to any kind of footwear. I grin as the reason behind the two becomes clear to me and mutter: "Urmila, my darling sister, you really thought of everything." I quickly make sure that the wheels are attached to the boots and that the statue is back on its feet. I move over to the tablet, type in the password and grin widely when I see that the device is already on the Spotify app that has my track list on it.
I quickly stroll through the list, but a perfect song presents itself even before I am done with my first swipe down. I grin from it to the statue and then press the title. The device starts to play and I turn around. And suddenly I am beyond glad with myself that I decided to wear the tux that I wore to Rajan's party a few years ago. It had been a spur of the moment decision and yet now I think: "One of the best I made today. One of many, I'd like to think."

I make sure that my steps are in tune with the music and gently move over to the statue. I gently move its left arm to rest on my own right and take its right hand in my own. And thanks to the wheels underneath the boots, I happily twist and turn the gorgeous statue around the floor as the song Beauty and the Beast plays. I also suddenly realize that the tablet is connected to a couple of speakers that are set around the room and love the way that the song sounds through the entire area. Yet my sole focus is on the statue in my arms.
"This song fits us so well, don't you think Inspector? Oh, how desperately I am waiting on that day. On the day you realize that things aren't entirely what you believe them to be. On the day you will finally give me a chance like this. A chance to truly be with you, by your side. To hold you in my arms and dance with you to songs like this. To have that chance where I can have fun with you, without a case or a heist being the reason that we encounter each other."
The song picks up and I happily twirl the Inspector statue away from me and then back in my arms. I feel absolutely glorious as I feel her hand land on my arm and gaze into those gorgeous brown orbs. And I don't even care that, because that is how Urmila made the statue, the eyes aren't staring back at me, but just over my left ear. "I know what some who know this of me – or suspect of my feelings for you – might think or say if they heard me wish this.

Then why won't you just use Bentley's expertise with hacking and computer tech to find out where she lives? Why won't you just visit her when she's off work?" The song has ended and yet I pull the statue close against my form, loving the fact that the official version with Celine Dion has followed. "Because you deserve better, my love. Because you deserve your rights to privacy to be protected and honored. That's why I told Bentley to work his best to provide you with the best potential firewalls and other protection."
I laugh at this and say: "Yes, that does mean that Bentley had to hack into your computer in order to install these firewalls, but it was a one time thing. And I know my buddy, he went in, installed it and left. He wouldn't dare take a gander into your personal stuff and back then he was way too terrified to find out what you did for work to look into your case files. And I also know that, ever since, other than checking to see if your programs have kept themselves updated, he has left your computer well enough alone. And I am very grateful for him for that."

Then another thought occurs to me and this one makes me smirk. This time I move the statue over to a large, comfortable looking couch with high end back rest that seamlessly moves into the right arm rest in a bow. I lie the statue down on it, but I do make sure that her head remains focused on me and my person. I gently run a hand through the fur on her cheek and my own fur bristles in sheer delight at how realistic it all feels, just like the hair earlier.
I pull my attention away from the statue, no matter how hard a task that is, and move back to the playlist on the tablet. I quickly type in a search command and once I have the song in front of me, ready to play at the press of the title, I turn to grin at the statue on the couch. "I know I say it all the time, Carmelita, but sometimes – I really don't think you realize just how breathtaking you really are. Luckily for us, a song recently came out that might just help fix that."

I press the title and this time a nice upbeat tempo plays from the device and the speakers around the room. I feel my inner Master Thief come alive as I get the idea to use some famous and ancestral Cooper moves to incorporate them into a dance and turn around as the first of five young voices start to sing. You're insecure ... is enough. (PS. I know that this song originally came out in 2011, but I seriously don't care. It fits the story too brilliantly).
As the song plays and as I sing, I move back to the statue. I then notice that her arms are still held in the dancing position and while I continue the next verse, I fix this. And like the princess that I always believed her to be, I lie her hands to lie across her waist. I also run another hand through the fur on her cheek as I am now fully into this and into the need to just take advantage of the chances given to me. Then the text of the chorus plays and I jump up.
Yet instead of singing that she smiles at the ground, I sing But when you frown, turn around, it ain't hard to tell as I don't feel like Carmelita would ever show such a high level of shyness. Yet the fierce strength and pride of the Inspector are just even more traits about her that endear the gorgeous vixen to me. And when the chorus sings I want you so desperately I feel the desperate need to one day have the vixen in my life in a more permanent manner come up within me.

The second verse plays and as I sing To prove I'm right, I put it in a song, I again feel that desire and wish for this to be the real Inspector to rise up in me. I also quickly change the next line and sing I don't know why, the truth you would denyand then continue the song as normal. Yet as the song picks up tempo again, I feel my urge to have the statue close rise up in me. And with help of my swift reflexes, I help the statue back on its feet.
The wheels are still underneath the boots and I take full advantage of this. On the same tempo as the song, I twirl and twist the statue around, all the while still singing along with the song and adapting it where necessary. The part where the singers just chant comes up and I let go off the statue to perform a few Cooper moves, in my mind envisioning how this would impress the statue if it had been the real deal. Yet I also grin as I envision the real inspector just playfully rolling her eyes at me.
For a short while the song slows down its tempo and I take advantage of this. I wrap my arms around the waist of the gorgeous statue and gently sway with it to the tune as I continue to sing the chorus two more times, once at a calm pace and once at an upbeat pace. And finally, when the song ends, I let myself go and press my lips firmly against those of the statue. My toes curl within my shoes and my tail does the same, pressing its furled up form against my back.

I end the kiss faster than I normally would though and just gaze into those amazing chocolate brown eyes that are still looking just past my left ear. A small part of me hopes that I can convince Urmila to change this about the statue, yet most of me don't care. I just pull the statue close and hold it against my body, content with just being in this position with a representation of the fox I love. And while I know that some would call it cowardice, I decide to tell it what I never dare tell her.
I pull the statue away from my form again and move her head so that her eyes are now locked with mine after all. I know this is not a manner in which Carmelita would normally hold her head, but I feel the need to be honest with this, even if the statue isn't the real Inspector. I still feel my throat clog up for a moment, but I cough to clear it and whisper: "Carmelita, my gorgeous, my beautiful, my feisty, my – my life."

I sigh and because we are still near the couch, I gently push the statue down into a seated position. I take one glance at her and then look away. I really don't get why I'm not staring at the beautiful form that resembles the one I love so perfectly, but my need to talk wins it out over my desire to figure this out. "I know how you feel about me. I know how much I annoy you and aggravate you and make life harder for you than it needs to be.
I really, truly, honestly wish I didn't have to do that, but – I can't stop. Not yet. You see, I come from a long line of Master Thieves. And I mean a long line. The First Cooper to take on this profession was Slytunkhamen the First. He stole from the Pharaoh after the Pharaoh had wrongfully ordered the deaths of hundreds of infants and children of slaves. His son even exceeded him and helped protect Moses as he guided the slaves out of Egypt. He stole the weaponry of the guards and anyone else who tried to stop or hurt the leaving creatures.

You see Carmelita, being a Master Thief is much more than just a choice for me. It's my legacy; it's in my blood, my genes, my very DNA. That's why I keep doing this, why I keep stealing from other criminals and why I keep helping you keep these scumbags off the streets. Well, that and to see you have that sweet satisfied grin on your face when you slap a pair of cuffs on their wrists." I happily remember all the times I saw this happen and with renewed confidence I continue.
"Another reason I am doing this is my father. He taught me from a young age and he was killed, because a group of bastards didn't like that he was proving them to be the scum that they were. But it's not really Riley, Miss Ruby or even the Panda King that I am most disgusted with. It's Clockwerk. Believe it or not, Carmelita, Clockwerk is as old as my ancestry. He lived in the time of Slytunkhamen and even made attempts on his life several times.
When that crazy avian realized he kept on failing and that he was getting older, he actually replaced his own body with the metal beast you and I fought at Krack-Karov Volcano. I don't think I need to tell you how shocked I was when the bird told me this or why, years after that, I was so desperate to go after the Klaww Gang and get those Clockwerk Parts. The last thing I wanted was to have Clockwerk revived. And naturally, when that happened through Clock-La, I was determined to end her, to end the both of them."

I have been pacing through the room, past the couch that my beloved statue is sitting on, but I stop at the end and grin at the form as I say: "And you helped me with that. I know it's been two years, but – I doubt you will ever understand how special that was to me, how deeply I appreciated that. And – and when you destroyed the Hate Chip, when you put a permanent end to Clockwerk and the curse he has on my family, I – I knew.
I knew that it was you. That you were the one destined for me. That you and I were destined to continue the Cooper line together." I let out the same breath of wistful glee as I always do when I mutter this or think of this as images of little Raccoons and Foxes flash before my eyes. I push these away and focus on the present, on the gorgeous statue sitting in front of me. Yet as I do, I turn my head away again and say:

"Still, I'm sure you're wondering. Clockwerk is gone, his curse is over, why are you still doing this? Surely you've made your ancestry proud by now. And you're probably right, but – I have another reason I am doing this. And it's a pretty similar one to the reason I keep pushing you every time we meet. It's Bentley, Bentley and – and Murray too. They're special to me, precious to me and – and I don't want to quit before I have helped them.
They have talents, Carmelita. Talents that can be used for more than just being a Master Thief. But those talents, as great as they are, aren't yet ready to be shared with the world at large. They need to grow them more, develop them more. If they do, then – when they do start to share their gifts with the world, it will be only a matter of time until people start asking criminal who or Master what? And when that happens, then I can do it.

Then I can go back to Italy, to where my father is buried and put his cane in his coffin. Then I can leave the world of Master Thieves behind me and make a name for myself. Then I can retire and be the Raccoon I – that a part of me hopes, prays and wishes you want me to be. The Raccoon that can come up to you, greet you and court you and, one day, marry you." As I say this I remember what Bentley and I did on Wednesday.
I pull the statue off the couch and use the wheels under her feet to ride her over to the string with the pictures dangling beneath it. I set the statue in front of the one representing my fantasy of our dream wedding and take a stand behind her. I wrap my arms around her waist and lay my head on her shoulder as I stare at the picture, the fantasy playing itself out in my mind as I say: "One day, Carmelita, one day this could – no, this will be us.

I am more determined to see that happen than anything else. Even the heist to Kaine Island and the legendary Cooper Vault that Bentley, Murray and I are preparing for." Yet while I do mention the reason behind our trips to Venice and Australia, I don't really focus on it. Instead, I put all of my vigor, my determination and indeed my heart in my voice as I say: "One day this will be real. One day either I will become Sly Fox or you will become Carmelita Montoya Cooper."
I grin, turn the statue around and stare deeply into the brown eyes that again don't stare back at me. Yet this doesn't faze me and I just quip: "Though I really prefer the latter, but that's mostly because I only want to be called a Sly fox by you, my lovely inspector." And again I press my lips against the statue. I just really don't care for the fact that this is just a life-sized model, the sensation of those unmoving lips against my own feels too much like the real deal.

Why did I stop?
Because this is the point where Bentley and the others come in and where Sly finds out that he hasn't been talking to, dancing with or brushing the hair of a statue, but of the real thing. And as much as I love this chapter, I can't add that as it would make this whole thing way too long. Especially because there are introductions to be made and revelations to be unveiled. But don't worry, the sweet care and romance that has been going on this chapter ain't going nowhere.
Let's have fun,

Venquine1990