So it's me again. Today's theme wasn't the easiest to write on, and my beta reader and I struggled to find and idea… It's lighter than the two previous fics, but not completely bright and fluffy, so yeah, expect something casual with a little bit of dark in it.

Popping her spine back in place, Yang readied herself for the night. She knew that today was going to be especially sportive, since she had finally found the trail of the burglar that had taken a vile pleasure by teasing the police during the last months. Now all that was left to do was to catch him, even if that was easier said then done, Yang wasn't afraid. The only thing she saw was the promotion she could get by catching the thief, and a promotion in the police meant both reputation and income increased.

The reputation didn't really matter to her, growing up as a street urchin quickly erases all dreams of celebrity from your head… The income on the other hand, would allow her to give a little more to the orphanage monthly, and that was a definite plus. She saw it a as a way to repay the orphanage for what it had done for her - allowing her to go to the police academy and giving her a decent life out of the streets – and to help other children to get out of the streets. To her it was a civic act, helping those in need and preventing gangs to find new recruits amongst the desperate… But now wasn't the time to rant about her political opinions. She had waited around that building for hours now, since the sun had set, with casual clothes that would allow her to run and her badge hidden in one of her back pockets, but so far nothing had moved. Though she was sure the burglar was going to strike today, and that building precisely, if he stayed close to his usual modus operandi.

Thinking about his past strikes and the global plan she had guessed in it, she nearly missed the shadowy silhouette that suddenly rushed from the tree's cover toward the building, soaring toward one side of it almost without impetus and catching the metal railing of the fire exit. Then the shadow pulled itself safe on the metal platform that stood a good eight feet above the ground, leaving behind just a distant sound of shaken metal.

Picking up her jaw on the ground, Yang shook herself back to action and started running toward the thief, quickly analyzing the surroundings to find another way up. She spotted an anti-crash post and decided that it was her best chance. Crossing her fingers, she directed her run toward it, placed her feet atop of it with difficulty, and then used both her momentum and the sudden height boost to reach the same fire exit, landing much less gracefully on the platform. Cursing herself for the noise she had made, she quickly noticed the only open window and got through it, only to find herself face to face with the thief.

Instinctively, she placed herself in-between the window and her opponent and reached at her waist to call reinforcement, barely noticing the feminine and shocked allure of the burglar. It's when her hand hovered over nothing that she realized she had left her uniform at home, and that meant her usual gear too. No talkie, no reinforcements. Realizing why the woman in front of her seemed so surprised – after all a civilian had just pursued her – she morphed her gesture to grab her badge in her back pocket.

"Vale Police Department. Hands on your head and don't move." She exclaimed, pointing her metallic plate.

She saw the thief's eyes widen in surprise and realization despite the black hood covering her face entirely, before said thief slowly put down the bag she was holding and slowly put her hands on her head. Carefully, Yang moved closer and retrieved the handcuffs – only part of gear she had kept, knowing that she might have to arrest someone on the go – before locking them on the criminal. Once she was sure they were securely attached behind her back, the police officer went on with taking off the hood as to know who it might be.

The piece of black clothing fell to the ground, and so did Yang's jaw when she saw one of her childhood friends, guilt crawling all over her face. Blake and she had grown up together in the streets, but they had been separated when Yang had joined the orphanage…. So that's what she had become.

"Blake…?" she said hesitantly, wanting to confirm her doubts.

"I'm sorry."

Yang didn't have the time to ask why she was sorry, she received a fierce headbutt and fell on the ground almost unconscious. During the time it took her to actually get up, Blake had stolen her keys and left, almost not disturbed by the fact her hands were still attached in her back. Growling, Yang took the time to reassure the apartment owners, and despite the fact that she had let the thief slip between her fingers, she was warmly thanked for preventing the robbery. After all, the bag of belongings was still on the ground. Giving back what the victims owned, she kept the bag and the other properties that were in there. It was like starting all over again, now that she knew Blake would stay quiet for at least five months…

Though she ended up finding her a lot sooner than she expected. One day, after working later than usual, she went to the orphanage as she did almost every evening… But this time, there was someone else. Someone raven-haired, wearing a coal bow. Someone that was discussing with the orphanage's owner in hushed voice. When she got closer, Yang confirmed her suspicions on that someone's identity… And she also learnt the reason of her presence here.

"Here, that's this month's income. I hope it will help you" Blake said slowly, putting a cheque in the other's hand

"Blake, I can't accept this. I know what you do for a living." The other answered, trying to give it back

"We already discussed it. This is the money I earn by working all day in that crappy restaurant, its perfectly legal. How I keep myself fed is another story."

"I can't let you flirt with legality again and again just because you spend your paycheck for us…"

Biting her lower lip, Yang came out of the shadows after a long hesitation. She knew Blake would most certainly run as soon as she would see her, but she had to try. Somehow, deep inside herself, she knew there was still hope for her childhood friend. That there was a way to pull her from the shadows.

"Blake?"

As planned, she turned and started running… But Yang wouldn't let her go this time. Ignoring the shocked look on the only witness' face, she rand like her life depended on it, sparing a few breaths to try reassuring Blake. She didn't intend on arresting her… She wanted to help her. With all her might, she ran after her hoping that it wasn't too late. That their paths hadn't diverged too much.

Done! For those of you wondering what's the link between the fic and the theme, it's because Yang and Blake have taken two different roads to get out of the streets, two roads that are closely intertwined but meant to stay adverse. Late again... Sorry lately I've got a lot of things going on since I'm moving overseas in about two weeks.

While I'm at it, I might pause this challenge for a while around September 11th, to take my time to get used to my new place and school and stuff. And yeah, I'm flying on September 11th, not ironic at all. Not like it was double ironic because I was born literally one day before the towers fell…

Anyway, hope you liked it and I'll see you later if everything's going alright!