Lupin the Third: The Del Monte Ruby

Chapter 4

For a moment, Ruby just stared at him, star-struck, and admittedly a little frightened. But she was pleased that she'd managed to withhold a scream, even if it meant she had half her hand in her mouth. It would be unwise to draw attention to this room, particularly with the open window that his man, Lupin (it really was Lupin!) had just entered through.

"'Ow ong ave oo een anding there?" she asked with her mouth full of fingers. And how had she not noticed that the window to her bedroom was open?

Lupin seemed to have no trouble understanding her. "Well, let's see... Showed up at the same time as all the guests, snuck right past Pops, looped around to the other side of the house, found a dark window and scaled it... I came in almost 10 minutes ago. And I was gonna just pass on through here, when I got distracted..." From behind his own back, he withdrew her Lupin plush. "...by myself!"

"Ahh!" Ruby exclaimed. She could feel her cheeks growing hot and was glad it was dark in the room so that he couldn't tell.

"You know, I don't see a single cent from this merchandise. People are really making a profit off of me. It's almost not fair."

"O-Oh," said Ruby, flushing and averting her gaze in shame. She'd spent rather a lot on the Lupin merch she possessed. Now she felt a little bad.

Casually, Lupin strolled around her room, looking at all the photos and drawings and inspecting the pin board. "When I saw all of this stuff, I have to say, I was impressed. And... a little terrified."

"I-I'm not a creeper, I swear!" said Ruby, holding up her hands and trying to wave away any misunderstandings. "I just don't have much opportunity to go anywhere or do... well, anything. So, I live vicariously through you, I guess."

Lupin just chuckled as he continued to inspect what Kierra and Adela referred to as Ruby's 'Wall of Shame.' Meanwhile, Ruby buried her face in her hands and groaned.

"Ohhhh maaaaan... This is SO embarrassing!" At the very least, she wasn't wearing one of her Lupin T-shirts or Lupin pjs. But then, she also would have preferred to meet him not dressed as a giant green cupcake.

From her desk, he picked up a sketch of himself. "Oh, did you do this yourself? Nice. You really got my good side. Granted, all sides are my good side. I am a man of many facets. Like a diamond... or a ruby."

A ruby.

The Ruby in question gulped nervously, wondering how she should broach the subject of the treasure he'd come to steal, or rather, the lack thereof. She could not believe Lupin The Third was in her room! Her inner sanctum! This was at once both exhilarating and horrifying.

Standing at the pin board, Lupin plucked at some of the strings with his fingers, making them twang as he glanced over his shoulder at her. "So, all of this research and following my heists... you're not trying to track my movements and sell my position to the authorities, are you? You're not like some kinda Interpol watch dog, or anything?" He looked back at the pin board, studying the pictures and newspaper articles as he trailed his fingers along the strings. "Because that would really put a damper on our relationship."

'We have a relationship?'

Or was that a threat?

Swallowing, Ruby held up her hands in what she hoped was a conciliatory gesture. "N-No! Of course not! In fact, I root for you! Er, well, I mean, it's not that I condone thievery or criminal behavior, exactly," she stammered, rubbing the back of her neck and averting her gaze. "But I really like the way you stick it to the patriciate. And I think you've done some really remarkable things as well. I write all about it in my blog. Um, I-I can take that down if you'd feel better," she said, hurrying over to the pinboard.