BlackRoseWolf13, I want to thank you for sending me your idea for this chap, you really helped me. If you didn't I'd have writer's block.
Yay! Finally, we see Sly's reaction to Leo!
Sly 4: The Nightmare of Thieves
Chapter 6
Sly stared at Leo.
Leo had the same intense green eyes and the same pitch black fur. Sly saw that Leo had a scar across his left eye and a long scar down his right arm. Sly also saw a tattoo on Leo's throat, it was a sword with thorns wrapped around it. Leo was still tall, and gained a lot of muscle, probably from being a swordsman and training.
Leo was staring back at Sly. He wasn't showing any emotion and he wasn't showing what he was feeling about seeing his old friends. It was like he was wearing a mask and it wasn't the same Leo that Sly had grown up with.
Sly felt angry and betrayed. Leo was once his best friend, and then he just left them. But Leo and Sly were the same in one way; they both left their best friends.
Leo looked at Bentley, who was smiling. Leo saw that the turtle was in a wheelchair, the panther's knees shook and he had to lean against the wall behind him to stand. Leo knew that it was because of Neyla that Bentley was in a wheelchair. Leo had heard what happened to the turtle and Leo knew he was also part of it, even though he wasn't there. He had been on Neyla's team and knew what she was up to, but he didn't do anything to stop it.
He looked at Murray, who looked like he was about to jump up and hug Leo.
Then the panther looked at Sly, who was staring at him with intense, surprised amber eyes.
The whole room was quiet; it felt like it was holding in a breath.
Abby and Jake looked at Leo then at Sly, they were watching closely. Jake would break up a fight if one of the two tried to start one. Abby would help calm them down if they got in an argument.
Annie was biting her lip and watching Sly and Leo look at each other. She really wanted them to get along and become friends again. She hated the fact that Sly had been hurt, but she also hated the fact that Leo had been hurt also. She knew that Leo was hurting because of what he did to Sly.
After a few intense moments of silence Leo spoke, it was only two words, "I'm sorry."
Everyone's eyes shifted to Sly to see what the raccoon would say.
Sly felt everyone staring at him, he couldn't find any words. What was he supposed to say?
Leo swallowed then looked at Murray and Bentley.
"I'm sorry that I hurt you guys. I wasn't thinking clearly when I left, I was only thinking of revenge. I wanted to kill…Chad for killing her," Leo couldn't say Clara's name; it was too hard for him to do. He looked at Sly again and continued, "I should've listened to you, and I shouldn't have left. I should've thought about who I would be hurting if I left."
Leo looked at Annie and Riley, knowing that he had hurt them too. They were his family, all of them were. They cared about him and liked him for who he was. He didn't have to change for them, but he did anyways.
Leo had once been an easy going guy who laughed and showed emotion, but then when Clara died, Leo stopped being that guy. He never smiled -if he did smile it was fake or it was an act- he never laughed, never showed emotion. He trained himself not to show emotion. Showing emotion showed weakness. He learned that the hard way and hated himself for it.
Leo looked all of his friends that he left behind, "I know I've hurt you guys and I wish I could take it back, but I can't. I just hope that you can forgive me," he looked Sly in the eye.
Sly knew that the forgiveness line was for him. He knew that Bentley forgave Leo, along with Murray. But Sly didn't know if he could trust Leo.
"Leo I forgive you, but I don't know if I can trust you. I don't even know if I want to trust you again," Sly said, looking at the wall, rather than looking at Leo.
Leo looked at the ground; he knew that Sly would say something like that. Sly had been hurt more than the others.
Leo clutched his fist, he was angry at himself. He regretted making the mistake of leaving everything behind him.
"Breakfast is ready," Nina said softly and then put the food on the table.
Leo slowly sat down at the table, away from everyone else.
Everyone passed the food around the table.
There was still tension in the air, so nobody said anything. No one had anything to say.
Murray, who was tired of the silence, was the one who broke the silence.
"So who is the enemy?" he asked quietly.
Leo raised his head and then after nobody said anything he spoke, "Jade Edwards."
Sly looked in the panther, "Who the hell is that?"
"She's an old friend of…Neyla," Leo said and he saw Bentley, Murray, and Sly tense.
"How do you know her?" Sly asked looked at the empty space next to Leo.
"Jade and I used to work with Neyla, before Neyla went insane and wanted to have the Clockwerk parts to live forever. That's how I met Rajan," Leo looked at the old tiger, who smiled. "I left after Neyla said that she would destroy anyone who tried to stop her. Jade went along with what Neyla did, but she still talked to me from time to time. But then one night I told her I never wanted to see her again, after she said that Neyla was working with someone who had 'revived' Clockwerk."
"But why is Jade after us though?" Murray asked.
"Jade and Neyla were close, like sisters. Jade thinks that you three killed Neyla, but I think that it's Neyla's fault that she died. Jade wants to kill you guys for 'killing' Neyla," Leo said, looking into the pink hippo's eyes.
"Is Jade also after you?" Bentley asked.
Leo nodded.
"Why?" Sly asked looking at his food, not wanting to look at Leo.
"Jade asked me to join her to destroy you, but I said no," Leo said softly.
Sly looked at Leo, in the eye and saw that Leo was telling the truth.
Leo explained that Jade was most likely teamed up with a lot of strong people. He said that Dalton Brooks was on her side, everyone knew who that was, due to Dalton being an outlaw for as long as Leo and for Dalton being once working with Leo.
(Author Note: Leo and Dalton worked together after Leo left Jade and Neyla.)
"This is going to be a battle unlike any of the others we've been in," Murray said.
Everyone agreed.
At the enemy safe house – the out skirts of India
Jade knew that Leo was in India, due to her spy. Jade had no clue what her spy looked like, but Chad had recommended that Jade should hire them. Jade never actually saw the spy though, due to the person wearing a hooded cloak. But then again Jade didn't care about what the spy looked like or dressed like, as long as they knew where Leo was.
Jade was in India waiting for Leo. Her group was in an abandoned prison. It wasn't that big but it was better than nothing. After Jade's group arrived in India, Chad had an idea for capturing Leo. It was simple but made sense.
Chad would lure Leo into the trap that he had set up. Chad knew that if Leo saw him, Leo would follow him. He planned that two people would stand above where Chad and Leo would 'talk' and then shot Leo with sleeping darts.
Jade had doubts about the plan, but didn't say anything about it, all she wanted was to hurt Leo as much as he hurt her.
Leo had hurt her by making her fall in love with him, and then he broke her heart by leaving. Of course Jade would die before admitting that to anyone. She would never tell anyone that she had fallen in love with Leo, not even Neyla, when she was alive. After Leo left, Neyla hated him and wouldn't talk about him. Neyla wasn't as close to Leo as Jade was.
"Boss, we got her," Hanna said, breaking Jade from her thoughts.
Jade looked at the lynx then said, "Well bring her up."
Hanna looked at Jade with bright green eyes, then nodded, leaving the room.
Robert and Dalton came into the room. Jade told them to sit down.
"I'm giving you two another chance to capture Leo," Jade watched them with her dark eyes, as they looked at her with surprise. "We have a plan to capture him."
She explained the plan then said, "I need you two to stand above where Chad and Leo will meet, you two will shoot Leo with a sleeping dart. It is an easy task and I don't want to two of you to fail. If you fail there will be no more chances."
Dalton and Robert agreed.
Two dingo walked in, Kayla and Kyle. They were followed by a yellow eyed mountain lion, Emma. They all sat around the table and then Hanna came in the room. Galen, a leopard, and James, a jaguar, came in after her, dragging a struggling cat into the room. Chad was the last one to enter the room. He closed the door and stood by it quietly.
James and Galen tied the cat to a chair and stood by her until Jade told them to sit.
Jade stared at the cat who was glaring up at her with piercing gold eyes. The cat long, curly black hair was hiding most of her face. The cat had orange and white fur and she was wearing all black.
"Hello, Samantha Mason," Jade said cruelly.
"Oh how nice to see you again, Jade Edwards," the cat said without emotion.
"Isn't it always," Jade paused, "You know why you're here, don't you?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
Samantha glared at Jade again then looked away.
"If you're looking for Bryce, he's dead," the cat glared at the floor.
Jade stiffened.
Her brother was dead?
"You little- who killed him?"
"Steven, my brother," the cat named Samantha said.
"Where is your brother?"
"Dead. Bryce's guards killed him."
Jade sighed, "That's not why you're here."
Jade turned around and stared out the window again.
"What do you want?" Samantha asked with venom.
"You know the famous thief Sly Cooper?"
"I don't know him, but I know who he is. Why?" the cat asked, raising her brow.
"I want your help."
Samantha looked at Jade then understood what she was asking.
"No."
Jade turned, "What?"
"No."
Jade looked at James and nodded. James left the room and then after a few minutes, he came back holding a cat that looked like Samantha.
"Not even for your sister's life?"
"Ashley," Samantha said looking at her sister. Her sister stared into Samantha's eyes and mouthed, "No."
Samantha looked at Jade and then said, "No, I won't join you."
Jade sighed, "What a shame, oh well, throw both of them into a cell."
James carried Ashley, Kyle and Galen dragged Samantha, the three of them went down to the lower levels and locked up their prisoners.
Jade could hear Samantha cursing and Ashley was screaming, but Jade ignored them.
It was better to have a black heart than no heart at all.
With the Gang
The Gang all decided that they would split up and meet up at an old safe house Sly, Bentley and Murray used when it was just the three of them. Leo would drive one way and Murray the other. If they didn't spit up, it would be easier for Jade to get Sly. Jake, Abby, Annie, Riley, and Dimitri would go with Leo and Sly, Bentley, Penelope, Panda King, and the Guru would go with Murray.
They spent the day making plans.
Sly was still a little quiet to Leo, but he saw that Leo had changed. Leo had become more aware of things, he knew things about the enemy, Jade, that helped the Gang a lot.
As Leo and Jake packed the truck and made room for Dimitri, Sly remembered the picture that he found and then walked over to Leo.
"Hey, uh, Leo," Leo turned to Sly in surprise. Sly held out the picture, "I found this and I guessed that it was yours."
"Thanks," Leo said taking the photo from Sly's hand. "I was looking for this."
Sly smiled, "Well, I'll see you guys at the safe house."
Leo nodded, "See ya."
Sly got in the van. Before Murray got in the van, he smiled then patted Leo on the back and said, "See ya soon."
Leo smiled then Bentley rolled passed Leo. Bentley looked up at the panther and smiled.
"It's good to see that you're back," the turtle said to his old friend.
Leo smiled, but didn't say anything.
The old Leo wasn't back and probably never would be.
Penelope, Panda King, and the Guru said their goodbyes and then the three of them got in the van.
After they were gone, Leo's group got in the truck. Leo went into Rajan's house and hugged Nina.
"Goodbye Leo," Nina said kissing his cheek, "Be careful. Take care of yourself and the others."
"I will."
Rachel hugged Leo and Randal shook Leo's hand. Rajan put his hand to Leo's shoulder then the two of them walked to the front door.
"Be careful and make sure that you protect Sly. If Jade gets you or Sly, there's no knowing what she'll do," Rajan said warningly.
"Thanks sir," Leo said swallowing.
"Good luck, you'll need it."
"Thank you, Rajan."
The tiger nodded then squeezed Leo's shoulder once then let go of his shoulder.
Leo walked to the truck, feeling even worse than he'd ever felt.
Leo got in and then turned to his friends.
"Ready?" he asked.
Jake held up a gun, grinned, and then nodded. Abby nodded and then put the crossbow in her lap. Riley grinned and said, "Come, let's go." Annie nodded and Dimitri said, "Let's get this over with."
Leo started the truck then they were gone.