Chapter Text
“What separates a master thief from a petty criminal?” Conner looked at his son, the kit was balanced on a fence post. With the Thievius Raccoonus pages gone Conner had to rely on his own lackluster teaching skills to ready Sly for thieving. Currently Conner was attempting to teach Sly the Spire Jump technique, allowing a Cooper to balance on small points.
“A master thief steals from master Criminals,” Sly answered, “there's no challenge in stealing from ordinary people.”
“Correct,” Conner gave a nod of approval, “next post.”
Sly took a second to rebalance himself on the post. The kit leapt from the post to the next one, he rarely lost his balance when he landed. A small amount of leaning and he corrected himself.
“Why do we steal?” Conner asked.
“To survive?” Sly was uncertain of his answer.
“Wrong,” Conner said, “next post.”
Sly furrowed his brow, he looked at the next fence post. He jumped, sly’s foot missed the post, his foot slid against the post as he began to fall. Before he hit the ground Conner grabbed him and broke his fall.
“Are you hurt?” Conner asked, Sly shook his head, “good. You got upset, you need to keep a level head when performing these actions. Fall from too great a height and you don’t get a second chance.”
“Isn’t that why you have me practicing on the fence?” Sly asked.
“You are Correct,” Conner responded, “but I need you to understand this can be dangerous.”
“I know dad,” Sly replied.
“Alright.” Conner helped Sly to his feet, “Now let’s try again.”
Sly nodded his head. Sly scrambled back up the post and balanced himself. Conner prepared his questions from the beginning.
“What is the most important thing a thief must do to stay hidden?” Conner asked.
“A thief must stay quiet, no matter what happens,” Sly answered.
“Correct, next post.” Conner watched as sly prepared to make his jump.
As Sly leapt an explosion rang out, Sly landed on the next post and they both turned to look at the hanger. The back wall had a hole in it, the fuel tank that Conner had seen next to it had detonated.
“Go to the house Sly,” Conner ordered his son, Sly was about to protest before Conner cut him off, “that wasn’t a request, go, now.”
Sly took a last look at the hanger before jumping from his post and running to the main house. Conner stayed long enough to confirm Sly had listened to him before taking off for the hanger.
Conner could feel the heat of the blaze as he approached. Concern wracked his mind, David and Cass were likely still inside. The man door on the side closest to his was engulfed in the flames, he would have to hope there was one at the front alongside the hanger door. Conner gave the back of the hanger a wide berth as he moved towards the front. Conner rounded the corner and stopped dead, sitting in front of the hanger he found David and Cass.
Sitting was perhaps too generous a term, Conner approached the pair. David was laying on his back, eyes closed breathing heavily. Cass on the other hand was kneeling next to him, attempting to rouse him from his current state. Cass looked over her shoulder as Conner approached.
“What happened?” Conner knelt by David as he asked.
“Not sure,” Cass shook David, “The plane engine exploded, we cleaned up the metal. Then the wall exploded, David grabbed me and we were just, outside.”
David took in a sharp breath and opened his eyes. For a moment they glowed silver, then the glow faded and they returned to their normal green. Conner and Cass both stared at him, dumbstruck.
“Why are you both staring?” David asked.
“You’re a mystic,” Cass’s face contorted with anger, she grabbed David’s shirt and pulled him towards herself, “you treat me like shit and jam a gun in my gut because I’m a mystic,” her voice raised into a yell as she spoke, “and you’re one too. What the hell is wrong with you?”
David didn’t respond. Cass gripped his shirt a few moment’s more before letting go. David fell back to the pavement. Cass stood up.
“No, don’t answer that. Whatever you say won’t cut it.” Cass mumbled in incoherent rage as she walked to the house.
Conner watched Cass for a moment as she walked. Then the raccoon turned his attention to the wolf, his face marred by contempt. David looked at him neither said a word for a time, the only noise coming from the burning hanger.
“You pointed your gun at her.” It was not a question, “she has been nothing but pleasant and you jam a gun in her stomach because you’re both mystics.”
Conner shook his head. David sat up, he offered no defense of his actions.
“And you’re a mystic,” Conner continued, “ I've known you what, fourteen years? Nine of those years you spent chasing me and somehow this is how I learn you’re a mystic?”
“Fifteen years,” David spoke up, “two weeks ago marked the first time I tried to arrest you.”
Conner sat back a moment, he let off a short laugh.
“Oh right,” Conner mused over the past, “you caught me robbing a jewelry store that was a front for a drug ring in Chicago. That led to your first big arrest right?”
“Indeed it did,” David answered, the wolf pulled his legs in and rested his arms on his knees. David let out a sigh, “I owe her an apology don’t I?”
“Oh you owe her more than an apology,” Conner replied, “now come on, let's move before those flames get uncomfortable.”
Conner pulled David to his feet. The wolf took a step and nearly fell to his knees, falling onto Conner’s shoulder. David steadied himself before standing again.
“Whatever you did really took it out of ya didn’t it?” Conner asked.
“Blink, move from one place to another in an instant,” David, “haven’t used it since I was nine, and never tried with another person.”
“You can teleport?” Conner put a hand to his chin, “I can think of well over a dozen times that would have been helpful, too bad you’re a lawman.”
David shook his head. The two began the walk back to the main house.
____________
Cass threw the front door open. She was still muttering incoherent curses about David. If she had been in her own home she probably would have thrown something.
“Hypocritical bastard,” Cass condensed her anger, “treating me like shit for something we both have.”
Cass fell into one of the living room chairs.She rubbed her eyes. When she opened them again Sly was staring at her from the couch, she had completely missed him on her way in. The kit had a worried look on his face.
“Oh hello Sly,” she smiled, “I didn’t see you there.”
Cass put a pin in her anger. Sly looked out the window at the hanger then back to Cass.
“Did they find us?” Sly’s eyes held a mix of fear and questioning.
Cass stood up and walked to the couch, she knelt down.
“No Sly we just had a little accident in the hangar.” she offered a steady smile, “well I guess it turned into a big accident.”
Sly looked over her face for any sign of a lie. Finding none, the kit slid down into the couch. He was still nervous.
“So,” Cass tried to think of anything she could say to take Sly’s mind off his fears, “what did your father teach you today?”
Sly perked up at her question.
“He taught me to balance and jump on narrow points,” he began, “he asked me questions between each jump. I got most of them.”
“Most implies you got a few wrong.” Cass sat down on the couch next to Sly.
“There was one,” Sly shifted in his seat, “Why do we steal?”
“Survival?” Cass guessed.
“That was my answer,” Sly shrugged, “still don’t have another one.”
Cass had a few ideas. She was about to voice a few before the door opening interrupted her. David and Conner walked in. Conner sat himself down in an armchair. David stood at the living room entrance, waiting to see if Cass had anything further to say.
“If you’re just going to apologize, save it.” Cass didn’t look at him as she spoke.
“Good thing that wasn’t my plan,” Cass raised an eyebrow at his statement, “I owe you an explanation as well. After I get the chance to explain what happened to Anthony, I’ll give you what I owe you.”
Cass looked at the wolf, she nodded. David stepped back outside to await his brother. Cass looked at Sly, the kit had a confused look on his face. Cass simply offered him a smile.