AUTHOR: Anonymous

18th of November, 2014 - Sapphires & Emeralds

Arthur took a shallow breath as he examined the glittering ballroom. Twinkling lights and sparkling gowns filled the room, but his gaze was focused on the gems he saw spread before him like a dazzling jewellery buffet.

Fluttering his eyelashes, Arthur convinced a leering old man to dance with him. His feet glided smoothly across the floor, although his graceful footwork was nothing compared to his skill in liberating the man's cufflinks and rings with him none the wiser. The jewels were safely ensconced in a hidden pocket by the time the music ended and the old man patted Arthur on the rump, thanking 'such a fine young lady' for a wonderful dance.

Hiding his anger, Arthur tittered politely and moved on to find his next target. For once, he was grateful for his short height and slim build. Combined with those natural advantages, a blond wig and a well-padded corset made stealing jewellery so easy.

But Arthur wasn't the only one who had seen the potential in the ballroom's abundance of finery and oblivious owners. The sound of someone stepping close behind him made the English thief whirl around. He found himself face to face with a fellow thief. Alfred was dressed handsomely in a fine coat and tails, and he even had the audacity to wink at Arthur as he said, "Good evening... miss. You look lovely tonight."

"Thank you," Arthur replied with a tight-lipped smile.

Alfred's eyes sparkled mischievously. "I've seen how... nimbly... you move on the dance floor. Can I have the pleasure of the next dance?"

"You may." Arthur held Alfred's gaze, silently daring him to call the guards. The night would end poorly for them both if he did. They danced a competent waltz, although Arthur was too focused on trying to decode Alfred's plan to add his normal flourishes to the dance. He wished he knew what the American thief wanted. It wasn't as if they had the same targets at the dance. As Arthur felt Alfred's hand roaming closer to his hidden pocket, he slapped it away and gave the other man a glare. "Watch your hands, sir."

"You were very familiar with those old men," Alfred accused, his jaw clenched.

Ah, jealousy. Alfred's sudden interest now made more sense. Arthur shrugged and ended the waltz near the open doors that led to the mansion's gardens. "This isn't Vienna," Arthur warned. As fondly as he remembered their brief dalliance, he would never become a master thief if he couldn't separate work from pleasure.

Alfred opened his mouth to reply, but a woman's shriek cut him off. "My bracelet is gone!" she cried from across the room.

The two thieves shared a glance and in the ensuing confusion both slipped out into the gardens. Once out of sight, they ran over flowerbeds, making a beeline for the tall stone fence that marked the edge of the manicured gardens. In the heady rush of the escape, it took Arthur several moments to realise that they were still holding hands.

Constrained by his tight corset, Arthur struggled to breathe as he tried to keep up with Alfred. He felt himself slowing Alfred down, and he half expected the American thief to let go and keep running on his own.

"Guards!" Alfred hissed under his breath, tightening his grip on Arthur's hand.

The Englishman spotted them a moment later. Knowing that running wasn't an option, he tugged Alfred into a nearby stone gazebo and collapsed on one of the benches, dragging the American down on top of him. Before Alfred could speak, he pulled the young man into a passionate kiss. They were still embracing amorously when the guards found them.

"Halt! What are you... oh."

Arthur didn't need to fake his breathless panting as he gave the guards a startled look. "Please! Don't tell my father!" he cried.

The guards averted their gaze. "Have you seen anyone run past?" one asked.

"Uh... no?" Alfred said, unable to take his eyes off Arthur.

"As if they would notice anything," one muttered. The others agreed and they left to continue searching for the elusive jewellery thief.

Arthur waited until the coast was clear, and tugged Alfred back to the wall. With a little boost from the American, he clambered over the stone fence and agilely landed on the leaf-covered ground on the other side. Alfred joined him a moment later, but Arthur didn't feel safe until they were safely hidden in his small attic apartment back in the city, where he could unlace his corset and gratefully inhale a deep breath of air.

"Did that kiss mean anything?" Alfred asked as soon as the door was closed.

"No. That was work." Before Alfred could speak, Arthur grabbed him by his lapels and pulled him closer. "This is pleasure."

The next morning, they compared their hauls and Arthur noticed something interesting about Alfred's pile of bracelets and rings. Ranging from deep forest green to peridot, they all shared the same verdant hue. "You have an eye for emeralds, don't you?"

"I could say the same about you and sapphires," Alfred replied, smiling as he lifted up a lovely set of Fabergé cufflinks.

Arthur bit his tongue instead of admitting that the cufflinks paled in comparison to Alfred's shining eyes. He shrugged. "They sell better than diamonds."

"Uh huh." Alfred grinned as he slipped a gold and emerald ring onto Arthur's index finger. "You should keep this one. It suits you."

"I... " Arthur swallowed. "Thank you."

"This isn't over, you know," Alfred promised as he slipped his stolen gems back into his bag and walked to the door. "Someday, I'm going to steal your heart."

Arthur waited until he heard the footsteps reach the bottom of the staircase before closing his door. He smiled at his new ring. "Perhaps someday I'll tell you that you already have."

Thank you to GelatoKitty for the prompt!