A/N: Well I couldn't help myself. I was inspired after searching through the Sly Cooper archive! Masked Heroes and National Crazy Thief Week will be updated a lot less until this story is complete. Masked Heroes is very in depth and usually is updated slowly so it won't be much of a change. National Crazy Thief Week will be updated in the same fashion...

Any ways, this story features a new OC, Dante Fox, and Yes, Dante/Sly lol :) Hope you like! Leave reviews, comments, ect.

~Slylady345~

Beside Himself

Chapter 1: Caught

My eyes shifted towards the young man standing not three feet from me. Calm was the only word I could possibly use to describe him, and true to the opinion, he was standing completely still not moving a single muscle. (I could also use the word annoying for the fact he was in my way of escape.)

Looking younger or about my age, more or less, he was of course not a raccoon. These days I didn't see many of those, in fact the last raccoon I saw was my dad. Of course there's my reflection…though I sort of have given up looking at myself lately, and just have rolled with the punches, not stopping to contemplate them wrong or right.

Back to him any ways, he looked well built for being around 20. Strong looking arms that defined his Spanish look, more so Cuban as far as I could gather. Well placed cheekbones that highlighted deep sea green eyes, the most attractive feature I could see besides his muscles. A black tipped nose with a few white, invisible, whiskers.

He was a fox about my height, maybe 3 inches off from being my size. This was intimidating, but I've dealt with a lot of taller foes. His legs showed that he was taller escalating a little bit further than my own legs. He had the same muscular legs I possessed, maybe even a little bigger if I do say so myself.

His outfit was ridiculous however, and really made my attention drop by 60 percent. Black track shorts, white scuffed up tennis shoes, a white undershirt that was covered in dirt, and to top it all off, a navy blue police jacket hanging loosely on him. It wasn't to bad, but it still made me chuckle inside to see an officer of the law so…dysfunctional.

Dark red fur; with golden hints gleaming off the very ends of each strand of hair, plus a big bushy white whipped tail with a simple black circle that looked like a birthmark.

Hm…am I forgetting anything?

Oh…and a shock pistol pointed at me.

How quaint.

Just like his sister. Not the same amount of fury as she showed off often, but the same motives. Of course I simply let my usually flirtatious attired smile dip into a boring line, he was a guy after all.

I'd been stealing a painting just for the heck of it, and this guy showed up confirming himself to be the expected Dante Fox. Carmelita's brother, as Bentley as explained after hacking into security for the painting. The painting didn't seem worth it now, having to deal with another annoying Fox.

I was getting a little tired of seeing foxes. That is…ever since me and Carmelita broke up. Yes, we got together, and yes I faked amnesia to get close to that…thing. After I realized what she truly was, and seeing as how she had nothing but hate for everything…I dumped her.

It felt good actually, to move on with life…but I still felt sort of lonely. I'd get over it soon enough I assured myself, though there was always the knowing feeling that I wasn't really happy being some player. I picked up a lot of girls every time I went out for the fact of my reputation.

All they did was kiss me, and buy me drinks. That's about it. Some can call it glamorous and the best life ever, or a dream come true…I call it trying to ignore the feeling of being by myself. Not the most creative name, and a little long…but it worked.

"Freeze, Cooper!" He roared composing himself into a standard shooting stance. I didn't move from were I was standing before, so doesn't that mean I have already frozen in place?

"So, you new?" I asked completely ignoring the threat. It was a gift to ignore authority if you will, and it worked well to my advantage.

"None of your business." He snarled back at me with a smirk edging it's way into his features. "Your going to jail."

That sounded familiar…who could it be that I'm thinking of with the same overused line?

"Now that's being rude." I put a hand to my heart and pretended to be hurt; "I'm a master thief now aren't I?"

"So?" The fox spat pointing his pistol more to my head than my chest.

"So, I think prison or the death sentence is more…precise?" I said raising my eyebrows with a mock.

"Are you suggesting that I have no knowledge of were you'll go?" He asked the rumbling sensation of a growl emerging from his throat.

"Not at all…well…" I paused looking at my cane in a bored fashion, "Maybe."

This made him bristle in anger and shoot in as blindly as Carmelita would have. I dodged slowly, simply stepping side to side like a typical Irish wedding dance. This enraged him to higher fury, "Stupid raccoon!" He barked out.

"Your comments run in the family I see." I retorted cleverly my high depth smirk strung out like Christmas lights.

"Just like your family's no good idiocy of thievery." The young adult quirked a smirk working it's way on his face again. Which somehow made me fell attracted, nobody really played along with my games…looks like there's a new player!

"Again I'm very hurt at your words!" I paused dramatically, "Though…I have no time to shed tears, for I feel it is time for the chase, and for once…I'm not going to have to do any work."

This made him spit out things in Spanish, that even I knew was dirty and foul. Pretty soon he recovered and watched me gallop away across the rooftops barley catching up with me. "Get back here!"

"No, thanks." I replied with a roll of the eyes.

As we took chase, he fired and missed; I dodged without any more comments to him. It was kind of strange, and sort of displeasing, not being able to yell anything at him flirtatious like I'd done to Carmelita for so many years…but I had to get used to it I guess.

I saw my van ahead, and gave a grin. Picking up speed I heard the officer behind my start to shout curses including my name. Though just as I was two building away from my getaway, a fox I knew all too well jumped out of nowhere a grin of superior on her face. Inspector Carmelita Montoya Fox of Paris France Interpol Station.

"Surprise!" She sung out pointing her pistol.

I had just run into a set up…smooth Cooper, smooth.

If I could have said anything before a pistol blast from behind hit me in the back, and from the front, it would have been, "Shit."

As I fell unconscious I felt the male foxes hands grab my wrists firmly and gently before clicking them into metal cuffs. I also heard a comment, "You shouldn't have shot too, you might have hurt him!"

Blackness…

It isn't pleasant…waking up in some strange place. I knew exactly were I was, and I knew exactly were I was going. Sighing I rose up from the cot and let out a small gasp of pain. "Stupid pistol blasts." I muttered under my breath as I struggled to lift myself on my arms to a sitting position.

And what did I see when I finally got into a position of dignity?

Dante Fox.

Casually he was leaning against the bars looking at me with a small smirk, "So…this is the big bad Sly Cooper?"

"Pretty much kid." I replied with a thoughtful sigh. I had to break out of here; I wouldn't stay here for anything. I thought after the crazy x-girlfriend things would get better from there…but nooooooo!

Now I was stuck in a cell looking at the brother who looked to be a constable, and who was also basking in his own glory of being the one to capture me. "I'm kinda surprised that was so easy, I mean, I used to think you were a legend." He broke the silence of my thoughts.

"That's nice." I replied not really paying attention looking around the cell for a barred window, or some other form of escape from this annoying fun house.

"There no way to escape." He chuckled, "No windows."

"There's other ways." I retorted silky smooth, to which I saw a shiver from him, ha…I even have an affect on men, I'm good.

"Like tunneling? Unlikely, pure metal walls reinforced, Coop." Leaning back on the wall in front of my cell with his arms crossed against his chest.

"True." I admitted, "Still, there's ways." Again his deep chuckle sounded off to my defiance to give up.

"Uhuh, keep telling yourself that. Oh and there's no contacting anybody I might add." The cocky constable then waved the familiar blue binocucom in front of the bars; I wanted to sock him.

"Fine…when's my court date anyhow?" I asked giving up on a plan, I was still in pain, and maybe by time it was time for trial I'd be healed, then escape there.

"Just giving up?" His eyes widened, and then he laughed again, "You really are a loser."

"Listen pal, your sister may have told you things, and I'm sure she did, but that doesn't mean you need to stand here like you caught me, and you know me. The only reason you caught me, is because you had your sister jump in front of me, because frankly your aim is crap." My words rolled out, out of pure irritation.

This made him gawk at me, then he shoved my sarcasm right back in my face. "I'm so hurt by your words, Coop!" Putting a hand on his heart and looking up towards the ceiling.

I let out a silent curse at my own brilliance and cocky attitude, "Well just leave. I'm just another prisoner."

"Actually…I wanted to talk to you." He became serious standing up from the wall and taking a couple steps towards my containment chamber. "If your not busy, that is."

"What do you want punk?" I asked fed up with all this talk, also sort of feeling strange about how he threw back comments as quickly as I did…maybe even a little threatened?

"Sheesh, got a bite to ya." Though it sounded as if he was disgusted, his face looked admiringly, "I was gonna make you a deal."

"What kind of deal, exactly?" I replied holding the bars with my paws cocking my head.

For a moment he chuckled at my cocked head, I blinked and gave a confused stare, "What?"

"Oh nothing…you just look kinda like a puppy dog when you tilt your head." He giggled with a slight amusement.

"Nice to know. Moving on?" I made motions with my hands in circles.

"How about…I let you out." This made my mouth go agape.

"A fox…letting a COOPER out of jail? There has to be some catch." I said suspicious.

"I did say it was a deal." His grin broadened as I sunk back from the bars realizing how stupid my comment had sounded. "I become a member of your gang."

I began to cough on my own saliva, "Uh, yeah right."

This made his brows go down into a glare, "I don't think you're in a very good position to be not accepting such a good deal. I heard that it's a set up court; all the jury is made up of cops that hate you. They are going to sentence you to death if you don't take this offer."

For a moment I believed him but then rolled my eyes and crawled back into the cot ignoring him, "Fine!" He yelled at me, "Fine! Die for all I care…"

"Okay, will do." I replied with more of my trademark sarcasm.

Though…the more I though about it…what if…I was sentenced to death?

Would my gang get there in time?

But…who could believe a constable? Last time I believed a constable I ended up being brainwashed and tortured beyond recovery. Though he seemed like he knew what he was talking about…how could I trust him? After all…he was related to…Carmelita.

I after awhile noticed I felt eyes staring at me. Using my peripheral vision I cocked my head somewhat and tried to see if there was somebody. Glad I trust my senses, they're always right. There was Dante Fox looking at my crumpled form on the bed with a troubled expression.

"What do you want, Dante?" I asked rising from the bed sucking my teeth in pain, to which his brows deepened into a more worried expression.

"Nothing, thief." His words chilled me to the core, and there had only been two said. That was true talent.

"I'm, sorry, but I think you better stay a cop." I replied to his attitude change after my reply to his deal.

"Why is that? You're a thief!" Throwing his hands in the air and coming to the bars clutching them with his own red furred paws.

"Does it look like it worked out, kid?" My voice wavered with a hint of sadness, "I got dumped by a girl, I have harsh feelings from my gang for leaving them like trash on the road, and now I'm stuck in a jail cell!"

I had rose to my feet and was now right in front of him eyes blazing in anger. He wasn't affected except he did look downwards; as I turned to return to my cot seeing as how he wasn't speaking I felt his hand grab my arm.

He yanked me back into the bars to were my back was now to him standing on the outside. Without warning his arms wrapped around my smaller frame, and he whispered in my ears, "You shouldn't give up so easily on life." His warm lips so close to my sensitive ears made them flatten, he chuckled at my stiff form, "And I'm not a kid, kid." Before he released me from the awkward position he whispered one last thing, "No matter what you decide on the deal…I'm not going to let you get killed, Fox's word."

Then with that being said his arms that imprisoned me let go. I felt shivers go down my spine, berating myself for not struggling, though quickly realized that I wouldn't have gotten away from that strong grip…hard thing to admit.

I turned towards were he had stood to retort something about him being a little too touchy, and how I wasn't a kid…though…he was already gone.

To my utter surprise…I already missed him…

A/N: This is really fun to write for some odd reason...expect a new chapter very soon, and please leave comments on what you think, I enjoy hearing what you, the reviewers, think of my story, it helps out a lot. The new chapter may even be written tonight, I'm kinda jazzed about it lol :)

Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Sly Cooper Characters, Sucker Punch Does

Claimer: I Own Dante Fox