Disclaimer: Still not mine…not until I take over the world.

A/N: I apologize for any grammatical or spelling errors…for now. I’ll fix them later on my own if there are more. If this all seems fast paced, then oh well. It was meant to be a one shot to begin with, but it’ll probably be about 3 – 4 chapters overall.

Anyway, enjoy!

Word Count: 8842

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Too Much Attention

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Exhausted and partially annoyed, Roxas yawned numerous times and dragged his body to school the next day. The events from the night before seemed like major parts of a horrendous dream. It played over and over again in his mind like a wrecked tape, haunting his daily thoughts.

Wait. There was a word for that type of dream… “Nightmare,” Roxas’ mind answered dully. He groaned in agony when the clouds shifted in the sky and created a wide path for the morning sun. He cursed the immense brightness; the sun was practically glaring at him, but that was the least of his worries at the moment.

The Crimson Thief had touched him…no, more than that. The thief carried him around like a football! Roxas despised such a thought because it was utterly humiliating, not to mention discomforting. No one had ever wrapped an arm around his waist like that before! Then the Crimson Thief added salt to the wound! “I can’t believe he violated my privacy and then broke into my house! I didn’t even hear him!”

Roxas groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose in a poor attempt to subdue his irritation.

“He doesn’t seem all bad, you know?” Sora chimed, shattering his brother’s concentration. He skipped ahead gracefully and began walking backwards.

“That’s what you think,” Roxas drawled as he buried his hands into his pockets. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes at Sora’s naivety. The thief was much more annoying in person, despite his dashing looks and stunning eyes. For the entire time Roxas was by the thief’s side, he saw this amazing, confident, yet nerve wracking smile attached to the man’s face. “I didn’t even think it was possible for someone to smile like that…”

Sora tapped his chin and hummed thoughtfully to himself. “Judging by your story last night, I’d say he’s a good person at heart.” It seemed like a rational thought, considering how the thief returned a stolen ring. He even returned the groceries that Roxas had so carelessly dropped.

“I don’t believe him. He could have just tricked me so he could gain my trust, Sora. You can’t disregard the fact that he’s still a master thief.” With a grunt of annoyance the blond crossed his arms over his chest and snubbed his brother as if to say his word was final. What thief in reality would return items back to their rightful owners? That’s right…they were suspicious, untrustworthy, and selfish. “He just feigned kindness so I wouldn’t badger him anymore.”

Perhaps Roxas was actually the naïve one. Sora clicked his tongue several times and twisted his body around so he could avoid running into any students or trees. “You met him once. He saved you, proved that he was kind-hearted by returning the ring, and returned you home safely. Maybe you need to learn more about him before you rush towards random conclusions. Or maybe you should even consider thanking him for helping you.”

A debate ensued two seconds later because Roxas was too stubborn to admit that Sora might have been right.

Without the twins realizing it, students, or rather eavesdropping fangirls, began to conjure up rumours about the thief finding interest in a high school boy. The atmosphere soon became polluted with gossip and untameable jealousy. It only required one hour for the fangirls to spread the word.

Roxas was the only person to ever encounter the infamous thief.

At first the students thought of it as a disgusting lie. Why would Roxas even want to speak to the thief when all he did was bad mouth the man? For the entire day, the blond received sneers, snubs and scoffs of all sorts. Classmates even pulled out old tricks, like sticking pieces of paper on Roxas’ backpack with childish words written on them. “Kick me, I’m gay” one of the sheets would say. Another one had the words “lover boy” scribbled on it, which made Roxas’ blood boil violently until the end of the school day.

He scrunched the fourth note and whipped it at his brother while their teacher worked on setting up the television. “Look at what you did!” Roxas hissed through his gritted teeth as he glared daggers at his unreliable other half. He didn’t need friends and classmates nagging and pestering him about the Crimson Thief every two minutes! “I hate that jerk! He’s nothing but trouble!” With anger flaring in his eyes, Roxas pounded the desk with a fist, causing his stationery to tremble. Due to the violent vibrations, the pencil rolled off the edge and hit the floor with a hollow thud.

Olette strode by and politely picked it up before anyone else could reach for it. She offered it back to Roxas with a broad smile plastered on her face. It looked as though she was feigning innocence at the moment because Roxas could have sworn she glared at him at least once out of jealousy earlier. Now Olette was simply gazing at him with obvious interest.

“How hot is he up close?” she wondered aloud, using the most innocent voice possible. Regardless of her tone, it was a blunt question.

Roxas rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh of exasperation, wishing he could be left alone. “So hot he’d make you melt into a pile of slush,” he replied sardonically, inching further and further away from the fangirl, seeking personal space.

Sadly the blond had lost count of the number of girls who asked that very same question. He also lost count of the number of girls who swooned over his answer.

In Roxas’ mind, the thief was a creep…snaking an arm around his waist oh so casually, carrying him from house to house like a package of stolen goods, always smiling like everything was perfectly fine in the world. “Good thief my ass!”

He was determined to prove Sora wrong. Prove that there were no such things as good thieves. Anyone who lurked in the shadows or emerged from an open window during the night couldn’t have a good heart…could he?

....……………………………………………o…O…o………………………………………………...

For an entire evening, Roxas sat alone in his room like a hermit deprived of natural sunlight. He snacked on chips and cookies as he explored the internet like a typical nerd. There were so many fan sites dedicated to the Crimson Thief that Roxas thought it was all a competition between the fangirls from all over the world.

Unfortunately, there weren’t many helpful sources; none of them held any useful information on the crook. Most described his dashing features and possible measurements. Some had rumours about Roxas himself. And some sites just displayed…disturbing fanarts of the thief. Something about “yaoi”, Roxas mentally noted. He arched his eyebrows and nearly spat out a mouthful of soda when he discovered a very graphic image of him and the thief on a page filled with fanarts. At first he swiftly avoided it by zooming down the page. Then curiosity got the better of him and he began to slowly scroll back up. “Hey! My ass isn’t that big! Why does the thief look so much better than me?!” Roxas scrolled up a little more and found one of himself in an extremely suggestive position with the thief…doing… “I think I’m going to be sick…”

He slammed the lid of his laptop down and groaned audibly as he buried his face into his hands, trying his hardest to eradicate the dirty images fogging his mind. “Great! I’m scarred for life and I haven’t even learned a thing about this freak!”

Granted, the Crimson Thief was a handsome man, and everyone on the world wide web agreed wholeheartedly, but what was his true personality like? The thief seemed cheerful, but he also emitted a mysterious aura.

What if he was actually psychotic during the day…or a bully? “Maybe he actually robs people during the day when they’re at school or work!” With no leads and no proof, Roxas had no choice but to bravely walk outside during the night hours. “Hopefully I won’t get jumped.”

....……………………………………………o…O…o………………………………………………...

Roxas vigilantly treaded along Moogle Avenue after Sora dozed off from watching late night television programs in the living room. If Sora knew what Roxas was doing at such a late hour he would have teased the blond. Fortunately, Roxas snuck out from his bedroom window like a delinquent defying his parents’ orders. He wasn’t bothered by the idea of getting scolded by his mother the next day, if she somehow found out that is. “It’ll be worth it if I get to see that jerk again.”

Tracing back to the scene of the crime was Roxas’ first plan of action. He wondered if the Crimson Thief would actually return to the same area even though he had successfully completed his mission the night before. It didn’t seem right for master thieves to retrace their steps without good reason. “He could be down the block or even across town!” At the moment, Roxas wished he’d attached a GPS device on the thief’s cape because it would have been much easier to track the idiot down.

“What am I really doing…?” Roxas let out a weak chuckle and pinched the bridge of his nose. He began to wonder why he was chasing someone he despised so much. “Do I actually hate him though?” Maybe he really wanted answers to that particular question. Hating thieves was something Roxas was used to, and it was because the majority of them were terrible people…though miraculously, there were good thieves out there as well.

“I don’t know what to think anymore!” Roxas rubbed his temples in frustration and decided to take a break at Moogle park. He plopped onto an empty bench and released a long, weary sigh as he leaned against the backrest.

The street lamps flickered weakly and drew in fireflies and moths from all directions. In an attempt to defeat his boredom, Roxas watched them dance frivolously around the dim lights. He blinked numerous times to prevent himself from falling asleep in the middle of a park. Watching the fireflies bash into streetlamps repeatedly failed to amuse Roxas after a short period of time.

“You’ll catch a cold if you sit there so carelessly. Do I have to save you again?”

A sharp gasp immediately tore through the blond’s throat when his mind snapped back into reality. He swiftly twisted his body around and found the Crimson Thief looming over his shoulder, a bright smile painted beautifully over his lips. It was strange how his vibrant smile was even more blinding than the street lamps.

“Y-you!” Roxas automatically sneered and pointed a shaky finger directly at the thief as if he was accusing the man of wrong doing. His heart pounded rapidly inside his chest, threatening to tear through his ribs. The mixture of emotions inside left him confused in many ways, silencing him completely. “Why do I feel this way?” Was he love struck? “God forbid…” Was he acting like a frightened child lost in the woods? Or was he simply stunned that the thief was actually standing right behind him?

Those thoughts were interrupted when the thief waved a hand distractingly in front of Roxas’ face. “You seem pale. Shouldn’t you be in bed?” he asked cheerfully, a small smile still playing on his lips.

Roxas gaped at him with an open mouth, shocked that the thief had such dirty thoughts. Or at least Roxas considered them as dirty thoughts. “Pedophile!” he accused angrily, gritting his teeth in emphasis. How dare the thief kidnap him and then utter such a despicable question?! Roxas inched away on the bench and pierced the thief’s sick smile with a frigid glare.

“Moi?” The thief gasped and placed a hand over his chest, feigning hurt. “My cute little blond boy, I kidnap objects of sentimental value. Not children.” He even had the nerve to end his sentence with an amused chuckle.

“Hey, I’m still going through my growth stage! And for your information, I’m a high schooler,” Roxas corrected dryly, balling his hands into fists. “How can I even trust your words after you broke into my house?” He was positive that the thief was capable of cracking any window open. How else did he return the groceries the other night? The thief broke into a kitchen window instead of a bedroom one. “Oh, god if he can break through bedroom windows, he could do explicit and unspeakable things to me when I’m sleeping!” He mentally cursed the fanartists on the internet for giving him a “sneak preview”.

The Crimson Thief hummed quietly to himself as he took Roxas’ question into consideration. “I already told you I stole goods from thugs,” he informed, raising a finger in a teasing manner. “You saw me return the ring.” He raised a second finger, making Roxas twitch. “I saved you from some nearby thugs and returned your forgotten groceries. Oh! And I believe I brought you home in one piece.” Finally, the thief raised the last three fingers on his gloved hand. A playful, yet triumphant smile danced over his lips when the boy was struck speechless, lacking the ability to retort. “Ah, sweet victory.”

Roxas groaned and cradled his head in his hands, refusing to admit defeat…verbally at least. “This freak is right! Stupid Sora!” he mentally cursed, shaking a fist threateningly at the image of his twin in his mind. Where was the nearest vertical surface now? Roxas just wanted to bang his head against it repeatedly and pretend that he had never met the man.

The Crimson Thief chuckled in amusement when he caught a glimpse of Roxas’ scrunched up face. “How cute!” The boy was getting worked up over such a simple matter. It looked as though his head was about to explode into millions of little pieces. “You’re thinking too hard. It’s not good to overdo it,” the man chimed as he wagged a finger in the air. “Want me to carry you home?” The Crimson Thief winked and tipped his hat cutely, petrifying Roxas for a brief moment.

If the man was going to wrap an arm around Roxas’ slender waist again…who knew what else he was going to do?

The boy blushed profusely and shook his head, eradicating the impure thoughts that polluted his mind. “I-it’s okay, thanks…” He raised his hands to the front of his chest and shook them. “This guy’s too polite for a thief!” It surprised Roxas when the anger inside began to dissolve. “Well, he really did save me…and carried me throughout the night, and dropped me off at home instead of letting me walk alone on the vacant streets…”

The thief tilted his head to the side and pouted. “You’re an interesting guy, you know?”

A fierce glare was instantly shot in the man’s direction. For some strange reason, Roxas took that remark as an insult. “W-what does that mean?” he asked with a demanding tone, slamming the bench with a hand. To Roxas, the thief was like an incomplete puzzle. Without putting all of the pieces together, he couldn’t make any solid conclusions about who or what the thief really was, but overall he seemed like a decent person. “Forget about it…” Roxas groaned tiredly and rubbed his temples with a finger and thumb. “Uh…w-why do you steal?” It was the perfect opportunity to ask questions, especially since Roxas was still thirsting for the truth.

The thief blinked rapidly at the sudden change of subject. “Because I like getting back at jerks,” he answered bluntly.

Roxas was taken aback by the man’s unnatural, cruel tone. It struck him as strange when an innocent smile grew over the man’s lips. “How can he smile when such bitter words spilled from his lips?”

Suddenly the Crimson Thief broke into laughter, making Roxas jump and frown. “I’m kidding! Sort of…”

“S-sort of?” Roxas repeated numbly, a glint of concern flickering in his blue eyes. The laughter ceased when the thief took a seat next to Roxas. The old bench produced a small creaking sound as more weight was added.

“I want to help people who can’t defend themselves. You see old people getting mugged because they’re easy targets, so frail and vulnerable.” Sadness dripped from his words, catching Roxas off guard a second time. It really was a good, genuine reason to steal. The police officers busied themselves with more violent crimes, so they cared less about the gangsters. It was only natural for some citizens to act on their own accord. “Those thugs need a taste of their own medicine. Or they should at least be humiliated.”

It truly was a battle between thieves from what Roxas could tell. The poor man had to do everything on his own; breaking into a variety of homes and stealing from them without being discovered. He had to move silently and stealthily, especially with that ridiculous costume he wore.

“So you really are a good thief, huh?” Roxas pondered, rubbing his chin. He never imagined the Crimson Thief as a kind-hearted person. Only a handful of people probably used their free time to assist others, but the Crimson Thief was playing the role of a gracious hero.

“I sure hope so,” the thief replied with a chortle. “At least I’m not alone.”

Puzzled by the response he received, the blond straightened his back and asked, “You’re not?”

With another quiet chuckle, the thief stretched an arm forward and ruffled Roxas’ naturally messy hair, earning a low growl of annoyance. “My eyes can’t see everything, so my friends are always on the lookout.”

Compared to the Crimson Thief, Roxas was quite useless. All he could do was complain, criticize, and place blame on the Crimson Thief for crimes he never even committed. Even the man’s friends were out there doing good deeds, assisting the thief in their own way. “I’m just a whiner…” Roxas thought to himself with a dejected sigh. A pang of envy poked at his heart after a moment or two. Since the thief was a good-natured person, Roxas felt the need to be an asset to society as well. It was simply strange how a thief was better than him in numerous ways.

“By the way…” The sound of the Crimson Thief’s voice shattered Roxas’ depressing thoughts. “What’s your name? I doubt you want me to call you little guy forever.”

For a brief moment, the boy contemplated his options. He was beginning to trust the thief little by little, but was it safe to reveal his name? Then again, spouting lies would have made Roxas an indecent person. “Roxas.” He stretched an arm towards the thief and opened his hand. “Do I get yours?”

The thief suppressed his laughter with a small snort. “I think you’ve given me plenty of creative names. Use any to your heart’s content.” He reached forward and gave Roxas a firm handshake.

It almost saddened the blond when the thief chose not to reveal his name. He supposed it was fair since heroes never revealed their identities to strangers of all people. “Will I—”

“Oh my god! It’s him!” a girl cried out from across the park, making both Roxas and the Crimson Thief turn to her in unison. Her eyes glistened with tears of joy as she clasped her hands together. Birds chirped and fled from the trees, fearing her booming voice.

“Ah, that’s my cue!” The thief allowed his hand to slip away from Roxas’ own and he leapt off the bench in a flashy style. Roxas had never seen anyone grab the backrest and do a back flip before, so he couldn’t help but watch in awe. “It was nice talking to you, Roxas.” The Crimson Thief winked and tipped his cute little top hat, bidding farewell to said blond.

“Camera! Camera!” one of his fangirls screamed, deafening Roxas for a few seconds.

Something inside nagged him to call the thief back. He wanted more of his inquiries answered, but the thief had disappeared into the night.

Sadly, Roxas couldn’t even speak his last question before the fangirls swarmed the area and chased away the Crimson Thief.

“Will I get to see you again?”

....……………………………………………o…O…o………………………………………………...

The following day was filled with so much noise and chaos that Roxas could have been suspended for creating a commotion. Everyone literally swarmed the blond after the fangirls spouted rumours about his secret “love meeting” at Moogle Park with the ever popular, ever handsome Crimson Thief.

“I think you’re all exaggerating!” Roxas heaved a sigh as he gathered his books together. No one was allowed to copy his homework while he was being distracted! Plus, there was no possible way he could concentrate either, not with all of the squeals and murmurs surrounding him.

“He must be gorgeous up close!” One of the nearby girls sighed dreamily, creating an unnecessary chain reaction. Every girl wore a mask of sheer bliss on her face, which made Roxas shift away uncomfortably until he had nowhere else to go. All of the fangirls were dazed and lost in their own little twisted world, probably imagining that “yaoi” stuff Roxas managed to discover the other night. The little hairs on his neck practically shot up and froze when he heard more squeals of utter delight.

Saliva was practically dribbling from the corner of Olette’s lips when she clasped her hands together. “It’s too bad he swings the other way, but doesn’t that just make him seem hotter?”

“Oh god, yes!” Selphie squealed and she, too, managed to create a chain reaction with the other girls. “Roxas, is his hand soft? Oh please tell us it’s soft!” All of the rabid fangirls leaned in and grinned in excitement, eager to learn more about the man they admired more than anyone in the world, including their own boyfriends.

“It’s gloved!” Roxas snapped at the girls indignantly and slammed his textbook shut. “I wouldn’t know how soft his hand is!” Oh, how he loathed these pointless questions. It was far worse than dealing with the math problems his teacher assigned. Not that he had any motivation to do them now.

The fangirls all squealed in synchronization as they thought about what material those sexy gloves were made of. They encircled Roxas’ desk with their own chairs, trapping him and denying him freedom as punishment for his little outburst. “Oh, Roxas, I bet they’re made of leather! They’d keep his hands warm and snug every night!” Selphie exclaimed gleefully, clapping her hands together.

With a lengthy sigh, Roxas fixed his gaze on a drifting cloud outside, refusing include himself in their conversation. “Why would I care about such a trivial matter? They’re just gloves…” Honestly, the fangirls could have considered the Crimson Thief’s more significant qualities, like his laidback personality or his admirable athletic skills. How could they have been so pleased with the thief’s insipid costume?

“Those gloves must be made of leather!” Selphie whispered shrilly, like she was revealing a secret. “The Crimson Thief strikes me as a sexy, but classy person!”

“Yeah, that would make sense!” Olette replied energetically, pumping her fist in the air. “Maybe there’s soft fur inside. I mean, you’ve got to be stylish and comfortable.” The fangirls leaned in and nodded vigorously, convinced that the Crimson Thief actually wore beautiful gloves. “Oh, I’m sure his fancy hat is worth a load too…”

Their silly conversations regarding the Crimson Thief’s high-quality garments drew a chuckle from Sora’s lips. The girls exaggerated on the simplest details, but they were entertaining nonetheless.

Sora leaned his chin on his intertwined fingers and smiled wily at his distressed twin. Fortunately, the girls were heavily engrossed in their debates and discussions because the brunet was able to pester Roxas without interruption. “So you defied mom and chased down the Crimson Thief around midnight, huh? Bold move, little bro. Mom would have grounded you for life if she knew.” Roxas folded his arms over his chest and shrugged stiffly, inwardly cursing his brother’s teasing tone. Sora then allowed his smile to stretch a little further until it looked like he was grinning triumphantly. “On the bright side, it turns out the Crimson Thief is a good guy. I told you so.”

“He’s a weird guy,” Roxas corrected sardonically as he wagged a finger in the air.

Despite the bitterness lacing his voice, Roxas couldn’t shake off the desire to learn more about the Crimson Thief. There were countless personal questions swimming in his head, each and every one of them requiring an answer directly from the thief himself. No one knew a thing about him.

What was the Crimson Thief truly like during the day? What was his occupation? Surely it was necessary for the man to make a living…unless he was wealthy. It was possible that he was still in school. Maybe he was just tall for his age. “I wish I knew the answers…” Roxas mentally cursed the Crimson Thief’s mysterious yet alluring aura. He was drawn to it, like a curious moth to a vibrant flame.

“Sure the thief is weirder than anyone I’ve ever met in Twilight Town…but I want to see him again. I can at least apologize for my lame accusations.” At first he tried to deny the fact that he really wanted to converse with the thief again, but his conscience constantly teased him. “You know you want to see him again, so why deny it?”

“You’re going to see him tonight, aren’t you?” Sora asked with a sly grin, earning a mystified look from Roxas. “I’m your twin. Reading your mind is what I do,” Sora explained matter-of-factly, “We both know you want to see him again.”

With a loud grunt, Roxas snubbed his brother, refusing to dignify his comment with eye contact. The urge to kick Sora under the desk was rising at a violent rate, and Roxas’ leg twitched in preparation. “Last night was a close call, so no. Mom will flip if she discovers an empty bed tonight.” Sadly it was an obvious lie that even Sora could see through, and it drew a frown on Roxas’ face.

“So basically, that’s a yes—Ow!” A shrill, girlish cry of pain tore from Sora’s throat as he sunk low in his chair. It seemed that a bruised arm (from the night before) was not enough punishment for his childish behaviour.

“I don’t know. I probably won’t be able to find him again. If I do, I don’t need those girls coming at me with questions and cameras.” Roxas growled lowly through his gritted teeth. The last thing he wanted was for the fangirls to swarm him and block off his escape routes again.

Sora caressed his wound with gentle hands and pouted irritably when his twin chose not to wear a mask of guilt over his face. Instead, the blond scrunched his face and rubbed his chin in deep thought, disregarding his twin’s bitter gestures. “I can slip out of my window again tonight, but mom might notice.” It was a risk he was willing to take since his curious nature was beginning to take control of his actions once more. “I’d better do it after my homework is done.”

The school bell blared and everyone evacuated the school excitedly…except Sora, who was limping and murmuring sinful curses under his breath.

....……………………………………………o…O…o………………………………………………...

For several gruelling hours, Roxas sat in his bedroom and made countless attempts to complete his math homework, but he had no motivation whatsoever. His mind had wandered elsewhere like a drifting cloud in the sky, never remaining in one spot. The laptop he owned sat tauntingly in front of him, practically begging to be used. “Maybe there’s more information on the thief now that girls have seen him.” With an audible groan, Roxas smacked his forehead with the heel of his hand in a poor attempt to silence the annoying voice in his mind. “Must maintain focus…” If it wasn’t for homework he would have listened to his conscience intently because searching for the Crimson Thief was starting to become a priority.

After shaking his head vigorously, Roxas raked his eyes over the fifth math question for the twenty-seventh time. “Stupid calculus, stupid parabolas, stupid imaginary numbers!” he grumbled indignantly, wishing it was all over and done with.

....……………………………………………o…O…o………………………………………………...

The warm evening colours stained the sky and Roxas watched in blissful silence as the sun began to dip below Twilight Town. Nightfall was drawing near which meant that there was little time for research, but Roxas figured he’d allow his instincts to lead him through the vacant streets. “He should be out soon…” After casting his eyes away from the vivid sunset, Roxas carelessly tossed his completed assignments aside and began to gather some thick clothes for his late night trip around Twilight Town. He was determined to find the Crimson Thief, but only because he wanted more of his questions answered. Sadly he was too stubborn to accept any other reasons, rational or not.

The bedroom door groaned as it slowly opened and panic bubbled in Roxas’ blood. He hastily buried his hoodie under the blanket and ran the “Sims 2” game on the laptop so none of his family members would raise any questions. Playing games during breaks was natural for any male high school student.

Sora strode into Roxas’ room and smiled strangely, earning a very blunt, straight to the point, “What do you want?” from the blond, who glanced up from his loading screen. He only wished his brother had the decency to knock on the door before entering…

“You still owe me tuna,” Sora informed using his smug matter-of-factly tone, pricking Roxas’ nerves like a needle to a balloon.

As Roxas opened his mouth to retort, Sora pointed at his bruised arm and shin, a triumphant grin gracing his features. Clamping his mouth shut the blond glared at his twin in bitter silence. His body ached to give the brunet a third or fourth bruise just to wipe that cocky expression away.

“Say hi to your new boyfriend for me,” Sora requested with a sing-song tone.

“Don’t be stupid.” Roxas quickly spat in defence, shaking a balled hand in a threatening manner. “He’s not my boyfriend and I’m not seeing him tonight anyway. Too much homework.”

Sora scoffed and waved his hand dismissively at his brother’s fallacious words. “There’s never too much homework for you. You always finish early.” Without permission, he plumped onto his twin’s bed and took a peek at the screen. The corner of his lips gradually drifted further and further apart until a devious smile was present on his face. “Making your own Crimson Thief on Sims 2, eh? I knew getting you this for Christmas was a best idea ever.”

“I am not!” Roxas snapped angrily as he clamped his laptop shut. “I didn’t even download him.” The very thought of creating a Crimson Thief in Sims 2 never occurred to Roxas, though he was secretly and seriously considering it now. All of the fangirls must have done it for themselves. “Great! He’s the town’s virtual pimp!”

“Downloading him into your hard drive…” Sora broke into laughter and patted his brother’s back in an awkward, congratulatory manner. “Dude, that sounds suggestive!”

Upon hearing such inappropriate remarks from his twin of all people, Roxas shuddered and violently nudged the brunet off the bed like an unwanted pet. “Ugh, how can you say those things to your own brother?”

Then again…Sora was the owner of a dirty mind…

“Because I can.” He elevated his body off the floor and reached forward to awaken Roxas’ laptop from sleep mode. He exited the program and popped open a browser so he could explore the internet for the most accurate replica of the Crimson Thief. “You go buy my tuna and I’ll add the Crimson Thief patch to your game. Don’t worry, by the time you return, he’ll be all over you!”

For the second time, Roxas slammed his laptop shut and glared frigidly at his twin who displayed a frightening amount of enthusiasm towards the mating of two virtual characters. “I’ll buy your tuna if you don’t download that freak into my game…and don’t touch my laptop!” he demanded with a warning tone.

“All right, deal!” Sora leapt off the mattress and performed an idiotic victory dance before he slipped out of the room, leaving an exhausted twin alone.

A brief, delightful moment of silence passed before Roxas ruined it with a long and heavy sigh. Nothing exhausted him more than his immature brother, not even the fangirls. Not only was Sora the owner of a dirty mind, but there were times when Roxas wondered if he also owned the mind of a giddy thirteen year old girl.

“What a dork…” he murmured as his eyes fell onto the screen. An accurate, virtual image of the Crimson Thief was displayed on the webpage, and the download hits were still rising at an astounding rate. Roxas shifted his cursor over to the download link and chewed on his lower lip, contemplating his options. “Sora would never let me live this down…” he thought with a contorted expression plastered over his face. “Wait…” He blinked. “Why do I want one anyway?”

“Roxas hurry up or the Kupomart will close!”

Said blond bolted from his bed and glanced around frantically for some clothes to change into. Time was running short, and Roxas knew that Sora would pester him if he didn’t buy the tuna fish.

Right before he left the bedroom, he paused and gaped at the screen. The cursor continued to hover over the blinking download button, taunting Roxas every passing second. “If I don’t like him I’ll just delete him…” That was the simplest way to go. He clicked it and stormed out of his bedroom, feeling an ocean wave of excitement inside. How peculiar…

He expected regret.

....……………………………………………o…O…o………………………………………………...

Stretching his arms into the air, Roxas yawned and exited the Kupomart feeling worn out from his short journey. He gazed up at the vivid streetlamps and sighed, silently wondering if he was going to encounter the Crimson Thief any time soon. “Well, even if I don’t see him at least I have the tuna.” Clutched in his right hand was a flexible plastic bag packed with twelve cans of fresh tuna fish, enough to last his twin for two weeks. “Glutton…he’d better not finish these off in three days like last time.”

After heaving weary sigh, Roxas turned the corner at Moogle Avenue and decided to take a shortcut home. He subconsciously raised his head every few minutes to scan his surroundings, hoping to catch sight of the Crimson Thief. Or his cute little top hat…or maybe even his cape. “Who am I kidding? He’s probably somewhere near Oathkeeper road. I’m sure there are more robberies there...”

The deafening silence that lingered in the air was almost unbearable for Roxas. “It would be nice if I could talk to him…” The urge to see the thief again kept growing inside of the blond like a dangerous virus. He found that he actually liked the sound of the Crimson Thief’s playful voice, the way he smiled, the way he acted, and the mysterious yet charming aura that enveloped him.

It was odd how Roxas lacked the ability to control the sarcastic tone that laced his voice whenever he spoke to the Crimson Thief, though… The man only showed kindness towards him. Perhaps it was the only way Roxas could cope with his insecurities around the stranger—or new friend. Or whatever the Crimson Thief was. “I still want some questions answered soon…” Roxas grumbled as he tried to eliminate the images of the Crimson Thief in his mind. There was nothing else he could think about though…just the thief…

He turned at another corner and slowed his movements as he gazed up at the tall neighbouring buildings near his home. “This really sucks, but chances are I’m not going to…see…” Suddenly Roxas’ body lost the ability to move forward. It was as though some unknown force had temporarily glued his feet to the cement.

With dilated eyes Roxas continued to watch the scene before him, feeling positive that he was graced with absolute luck. He had miraculously caught sight of the Crimson Thief slithering out of an open window belonging to a nearby townhouse, a small, fluffy object clutched in his gloved hand.

The thief was absolutely silent, yet his movements were swift and graceful, not to mention flawless. To Roxas’ surprise, the fluttering cape the thief wore produced no sounds either. It was like…magic.

“Remember Roxas, he’s not human. Even if he looks human, he doesn’t act like one.” The blond subconsciously nodded to his thoughts and crept closer towards the Crimson Thief, never casting his eyes away from the agile target. Roxas was a predator trailing his prey as closely as possible, never allowing his presence to be known, and making every attempt to avoid any casualties.

“Are you sure it’s all right for you to be out at such a late hour?” the Crimson Thief questioned cheerily as he skilfully jumped down from a rooftop.

So much for being a talented predator…

The sound of the thief’s voice strummed the strings near Roxas’ heart, forcing it to beat erratically. All of a sudden he fidgeted and stammered, feeling extremely anxious around the Crimson Thief. “I—w-well…you-you see… Wait a minute!” he snapped, gradually regaining composure. “T-that’s none of your business, freak!” Roxas retorted, pointing a shaky finger threateningly at the Crimson Thief. Oh, how he detested the rapid beating of his heart.

“Your cruel tone wounds me!” the man claimed as a vivid smile danced over his lips. “I was only worried about you!” Although there wasn’t a hint of concern dripping from the Crimson Thief’s voice, he was genuinely worried. Gazing into his emerald eyes convinced Roxas, but it didn’t change his irrational behaviour towards the man.

The blond childishly crossed his arms over his chest and snubbed the thief’s kindness, refusing to reveal any signs of weakness. It pained him to fight the blush burning his cheeks, though. “Who cares if the thief is worried about me?” he thought with an inaudible huff.

“I do! I do! I care!” something in the back of his mind exclaimed oh, so happily, like some puny male cheerleader.

“So what brings you here tonight?” the Crimson Thief asked with a low chuckle. His breathy voice had pierced the awkward silence that hung in the cool air. “Don’t you ever have homework?”

“I finish early every day,” the blond explained dully as he trailed his fingers along the creases of the shopping bag in front of him.

A broad and radiant smile slid across the Crimson Thief’s lips as he clapped his hands together in a congratulatory manner. “Every day, huh? You must be quite talented then!” He then tipped his cute little top hat and bowed his head, earning a small chuckle from Roxas. “Or maybe you just finish everything quickly without double checking your answers,” he added jokingly, morphing Roxas’ smile into a frown. “Did you do everything correctly?”

Insulted by the thief’s question, Roxas scoffed and batted an eyebrow. “What’re you, my mom?” he questioned with a dry tone.

“Sorry, I don’t have the chest for it.” The thief laughed light-heartedly and waved a hand dismissively in the air. Roxas only shuddered at the disturbing image flaunting around in his mind. The Crimson Thief did not need a rack because he was perfectly fine as a male thief.

“How’d you find me this time? Can I at least receive a proper answer to that question?” the thief asked with his most innocent voice.

“Serendipity, you weirdo. I just went to pick up Sora’s tuna because I forgot it the other night.” Roxas took a few steps forward and raised the heavy bag clutched between his fingers to prove that he was only out late because of the tuna fish and only the tuna fish. He swung it back and forth like a pendulum.

“You should consider going earlier so no one will assault you,” the Crimson Thief suggested cheerfully, hiding away the worry in his voice once again. “You can finish your homework later. Safety comes first.”

Roxas blinked rapidly for a brief moment, astonished by the Crimson Thief’s concern for his wellbeing. The man’s benevolence had caught Roxas off guard once again, washing away more and more of his ridiculous assumptions. “Y-you really are a weirdo…but I guess you’re nice,” he admitted with a low, awkward murmur.

“Oh? A compliment? For me?” The thief clapped his hands together repeatedly and grinned like a child who’d just entered the biggest candy store in Twilight Town. “Well, I’ve got to say this is the highlight of my day!”

An eyebrow drifted upwards on Roxas’ face and hid behind his feathery bangs. “I thought you’d be happier returning the stolen item.”

“It’s a great feeling!” the Crimson Thief exclaimed breathlessly as he stretched his arms into the air. “I love it, but I rarely get compliments from people. I don’t expect the sleeping victims to thank me, you know? If they knew I was breaking into their homes, I’m sure they’d scream bloody murder and then beat me with a hockey stick.”

“That’s true…I guess I should thank you for saving me the other night,” Roxas murmured as he gazed down at his sneakers. Guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders as he thought about all of the horrible, mean things he’d said to the Crimson Thief a few days ago. “Sorry for being a jerk and thanks for being nice to me…” Roxas’ words came out slowly, softly, like a gentle whisper dancing in the wind.

“What was that?” the thief asked as he raised a hand and held it next to his ear. “I couldn’t hear you.”

“Great! He’s making me repeat myself!” It was utterly humiliating for someone like Roxas, who was stubborn and full of pride. He was certain that the Crimson Thief was doing it purposely just to tease him. Perhaps the Crimson Thief wanted to hear the defeated Roxas admit his faults. “That’s possible!”his mind chirped, but Roxas shook his head in denial. Maybe the thief just wanted to hear Roxas express his appreciation once more, because no one else would ever consider doing it. “Fine…Thanks for helping me.”

The Crimson Thief clicked his tongue repeatedly and adjusted his hat, hiding his eyes but not his smile. “If only I had a device to record you. I’ll probably never hear those words again.”

Roxas’ fingers curled into his hand to form tight fists as his right eyebrow twitched. “Yeah, so? Surely you have something else to say!” A fierce glare was fired in the man’s direction. “He has some nerve…! Doesn’t even say no problem or any time!” The boiling blood beneath Roxas’ skin painted his cheeks red as irritation began to conquer him. For once he was being polite to the stupid thief and the man decided to tease him for it!

“I mean, you’re welcome!” The Crimson Thief waved his hands defensively in front of his chest and flashed Roxas his signature smile.

The irritation in Roxas’ blood suddenly dissolved when he gazed at the Crimson Thief’s cheerful expression. The invisible butterflies in Roxas’ stomach performed air loops and danced together in sheer delight, making his heart flutter. He honestly despised the unfamiliar sensation because he’d never experienced it until he met the Crimson Thief.

The man’s smile was very mysterious, yet…it offered a sense of safety at the same time. “At least…now it does.” When Roxas first met the Crimson Thief he thought the smile looked eerie, because no one in Twilight Town held one so bright. Roxas figured that it was all part of the Crimson Thief’s façade. “But it’s not…”

“So little guy, why’d you stalk me just now?” the thief wondered as he playfully cocked his head to the side. Roxas instantly jumped as the man’s voice popped his thought bubble.

“S-stalk?” Roxas hadn’t even considered himself a stalker for the past few days. The thought of being worse than the Crimson Thief sent waves of discomfort throughout his body. What would his schoolmates think if they found out? What would Sora do if he found out?! “I-w-well…I just wanted to-to ask you some questions because my curious nature is ripping me apart,” he admitted with nervous shrug.

“Go on,” the thief encouraged, nodding his head approvingly without hesitation.

Roxas straightened his posture and cleared his throat with an audible cough. “Don’t take this the wrong way…or you know…the stalker way, but I was curious about your occupation during the day.” God, he really did sound like a hardcore stalker…

“My occupation during the day, huh? I wasn’t expecting that to be the first question.” The Crimson Thief rubbed his thin in thought and hummed a little tune. Nobody in Twilight Town had ever questioned him about his daily activities before. Then again, no one had ever approached him so openly before either.

When the thinking process was complete, the Crimson Thief snapped his fingers and grinned triumphantly. “I’m a sexy bachelor.”

“What?” The blond’s jaw instantly fell open.

The thief laughed and ruffled Roxas’ unruly hair, treating him like a child once more. “Well the rest will have to remain a secret. I probably live an ordinary life like you,” he assumed as he winked an eye.

Somehow Roxas felt relieved knowing that the Crimson Thief wasn’t married to another person—a kind and beautiful young woman to be more precise. It put his heart at ease, but at the same time a disturbing thought brewed in his mind. “Why s-should I care if he’s married or not?!” He swiftly shook his head from left to right and eradicated the frightening thought.

The Crimson Thief stared at Roxas expectantly, waiting for a witty response. The blond stammered for a brief moment when he felt the green eyes on him. He quickly straightened his posture to look sharp. “Stealing every night for the helpless is far from ordinary, freak,” he said coolly, earning a small chuckle and nod from the thief. “So…what did you manage to steal this time?”

The Crimson Thief looked down at the fluffy pink object in his hand and allowed an unusually weak chuckle to leave his lips. Roxas stared perplexedly at the small kitten coiled in the man’s hand, curious as to why the creature was completely drenched in pastel pink.

“I stole a plushie,” the thief answered awkwardly as he scratched his cheek with a finger.

“A plushie?” Roxas repeated quirking an inquisitive eyebrow. The people of Twilight Town might have considered the Crimson Thief a pedophile if they discovered the stolen object in his possession. It could have been used to lure out little girls because it was just that cute.

“Kids…steal the strangest things,” the Crimson Thief explained. “I bet that little girl won’t be able to sleep without this.”

It was odd, but the stuffed animal looked familiar to Roxas. “Little girl…” There was only one child on the block who owned something so delicate and adorable, and…pink. She held onto it like it was the most valuable treasure in the world. “I wonder if this belongs to my neighbour…Naminé.” Roxas murmured as he tapped his chin.

The Crimson Thief chuckled and then nodded, presenting his signature smile for the second time. “Yeah, she’s a timid one who always needs a little kitten in her arms. She’s really protective of McFluffers.”

Of course! Naminé never allowed anyone to touch her beloved McFluffers without permission. She cared for it like it was a real cat. “So this really does belong to her!” Roxas concluded with a laugh. “Naminé constantly cleaned off the dust and dirt that climbed onto that thing.”

The Crimson Thief bobbed his head energetically in agreement, pleased with the fact that he and Roxas were having a pleasant conversation for once. “She’s a nice kid, but she draws a lot of attention from the boys.”

“Oh, they’re going through that phase,” Roxas said as he rolled his eyes. Children were always such bullies in kindergarten. He couldn’t believe that the boys were actually stealingfrom little girls though. It almost seemed like a desperate attempt to gain attention from everyone.

“They all have a crush on her, so it’s sort of cute,” the Crimson Thief admitted with a nonchalant shrug. “Boys constantly follow and bother the ones they like…We’re such dorks.”

With a scoff, the blond shook his head in disagreement. “You’re the dork, not me!” he declared with an amused smile painted over his lips. “Don’t place me in the same category as you.” Being grouped in the same class as the Crimson Thief was too much. Even though Roxas made it sound like an insult, he really felt that the thief was out of his league, being athletic and generous and all. “Not to mention one-of-a-kind in Twilight Town.”

To feign hurt the Crimson Thief placed a hand over his chest and gasped audibly, sharply, like he’d been stabbed by Roxas’ words. “How cruel! And here I thought you were nice!”

The two paused for a moment and exchanged glances. Then they grinned and laughed at their silliness. Their voices echoed off the brick walls and ripped away the silence that belonged to the night, waking those who were resting in bed. Some lamps began to flicker on and the two boys quieted themselves, cupping hands over their mouths.

“I suppose I should go before anyone else discovers me. I have to get this to Naminé tonight too.” The Crimson Thief tightened the top hat around his head and carefully tucked McFluffers in his pocket.

Roxas wanted to stop the man from leaving, but something inside warned him not to. It was a terrible idea because someone like the Crimson Thief wouldn’t have time to converse with him for long. “He’s a busy man,” Roxas’ mind stated sadly.

The boy kicked a few pebbles near his feet and pouted like a child yearning for attention. “I-I still have more questions to ask,” he admitted quietly, to both the voice in his mind and the Crimson Thief. Geez…he was supposed to hate the Crimson Thief! Roxas’ world was in reverse!

“You should just stay away. This guy is a master thief and a chick magnet! What do you gain from talking to him?!” Roxas’ mind tried to scold him. It made an attempt to stop him from growing close to the Crimson Thief, but Roxas was far too stubborn. “I-I’m not done yet!”

The Crimson Thief treaded towards a nearby townhouse, making it seem as though he was trying to escape the situation. In truth he was simply pacing back and forth, thinking of a positive way to respond to Roxas’ desire. When he heard blond heave a deep sigh filled with dejection, he whirled around and smiled a bright smile, hoping to put Roxas’ concern to rest. “I don’t think I can give you a full profile for free…What if I made a deal with you?”

“A deal?” Roxas raised his head and smiled appreciatively, pleased with the Crimson Thief’s decision. It didn’t leave the blond empty-handed, anyway.

The confident smirk plastered on the Crimson Thief’s face encouraged Roxas even more. It was as though the man was taunting him! “I suppose I can answer a question or two every time you find me,” the thief chimed brightly. “But can you keep up?”

It was a tempting challenge from the Crimson Thief himself, and Roxas was more than willing to accept! With confidence brimming in his eyes, the blond held his chest out proudly and smirked. “Of course I can!”

The Crimson Thief grabbed onto a window sill and chuckled, amused by his little stalker’s enthusiasm. “Maybe if I’m generous enough I’ll leave subtle hints and clues! Until we meet again, little guy! I look forward to it!” he hollered, winking an eye.

“Stop calling me little—” Before Roxas could complete his complaint the Crimson Thief swiftly climbed up walls of the nearby home and disappeared into the night.

The surrounding area was completely silent now, dark and vacant. Roxas felt alone and stranded even though he was standing a block away from his home. “How rude of him to leave me like this!” Roxas huffed and allowed his breath to lift his bangs. “I should teach him some manners next time…” He stomped towards his home and muttered bitter curses under his breath, wishing he could have said more to the thief.

Sure, Roxas was content with the Crimson Thief’s challenge, but he’d honestly hoped that the man would escort him home.

It was strange. But he couldn’t figure out why he was so attracted to the Crimson Thief’s mysterious aura. The man seemed kind yet dangerous at the same time, but Roxas yearned for more information. He found that he didn’t want to be a mere acquaintance to the Crimson Thief…he wanted to be so much more. So much more than “little guy”.

....……………………………………………o…O…o………………………………………………...

Edit: For the love of god, if you don't like Axel in this story because he's sort of predictable then don't read it or don't try to get me to change him...I'll write him the way I want. Go write your own if you're not pleased...Aside from that I hope that many others have enjoyed this so far, especially Tinuleaf.

Date Posted: March 22nd, 2009