Black Rose

Ch.36 Just The Two of Us

-A Few Months Later-

Rae entered her apartment after pulling a simple job on a local jewel thief back in Paris, but she soon realized it wasn't the same. As she tossed the bag of gems on the table, she set her cane down and slipped her boots off. After untying the mask from her face, the fox sighed, running her hand through her hair. "It just doesn't feel the same as it used to..." She said aloud, sliding her jacket off while making her way toward her bedroom.

"Things aren't ever going to be the same, are they?" Rae was thinking back to a few weeks after Sly had escaped from Carmelita, how the gang was suddenly split apart...

-Flashback-

"Guys, I can't do this..." Murray suddenly spoke up.

"Huh?" Both Sly and Rae turned to the hippo.

"Hey, what's up, Murray?" Sly asked.

"It's about Bentley... I mean, he's in a wheelchair right now all because of me, because I wasn't strong enough."

"No, it's not your fault, Murray. That was Mira's doing. You did nothing wrong." Rae tried to reason.

"Rae's right, it's not your fault, Murray." A voice said.

The three turned to see Bentley wheeling himself out in just a standard wheelchair. "Bentley, I...I'm sorry..." Murray said, sounding so broken.

"It wasn't your fault, so stop beating yourself up over it..." Sly said.

"I'm sorry, guys... I just... I can't do this..." He said, taking his mask off. "I think it's better if I just leave..."

"What? Hey, what are you saying, Murray? You can't leave, we need you..." Rae said, sounding hurt.

"I'm sorry, little buddy, but...this is just something I have to do." He then grabbed a bag and head for the door, leaving his gear behind as the gang watched him leave.

-Flashback End-

"Murray..." Rae said sadly. "Why...does it still hurt to think about, even now?"

However, the fox merely gave another sigh as she entered her bedroom, stripping out of her clothes and changing into a white tank top and black shorts with a white stripe down the sides. She then grabbed the gems she had stolen and pawned them off on ThiefNet, but just as she had finished selling the jewels, something caught her attention.

Knock, knock, knock...

"Huh?" Rae perked up. "Who could that be?"

Knock, knock, knock...

I'd better answer...

Rae closed her laptop and set it aside before getting up from the couch and walking over to the door, but when she opened it, she was surprised to see the raccoon himself standing there. However, something about him seemed a little different, Rae just couldn't figure out what yet. "Sly?" She questioned. "Umm... What...are you doing here?"

Sly didn't respond.

What? No sly comment? No snarky reply? Not even a smirk? Something is wrong... Rae noted.

"Hey, what's wrong? Is there something you need?"

She noticed Sly clench his fist for a moment before lifting his gaze. "Actually...there is something I need..."

"What is it?"

"You."

Rae was stunned for a moment, but before she could even give a response, Sly had let himself in, dropping his cane on the floor and grabbing Rae's face, pressing his lips against hers. The fox felt frozen, unable to comprehend the situation that was playing out, yet she was the center of it all. Sly then drew back, wrapping his arms around her waist as he placed his head against her chest. Rae just stood there, until the raccoon finally spoke.