This piece was born from a roleplay between the wonderful Reeno-Alchemist and me over at the RPRepository, featuring when our characters meet for the first time, but told from my beloved thief’s POV o.o
Disclaimer: The story has suffered from small adjustments to be adapted into a compiled piece of writing, but 99% of the dialogue is the original one and Raine Asawa belongs solely to Reeno-Alchemist.
The Thief and the Warrior
As a the thief and conman I am, I find pride in knowing I’ll never be poor, because I’ll never stop stealing, and never stop having money.
The sun was bright, high in the sky as I walked through the woods with my hands in my pockets, whistling a cheerful tune. The apparently worthless piece of paper in my pocket was safely tucked away. It weighed way more than anyone could ever know.
I stopped in my tracks when I saw a woman huddled, and bleeding all over the place at the edge of the path. She had two arrows sticking from her body. Not something you saw every day. Ah, yes, unless your travelling partner was a crazy redhead who only got in troubles, then no.
“Whoa, need some help there?” I face-palmed. “No, let me rephrase that: Do you want some help?”
The almost blue-haired woman lifted her head, baring her teeth as if she was some wild animal. “Help? Yeah, that’d be fucking lovely.”
Nice.
I approached and set my bag on the ground before checking her wounds; with care. What did I know? Maybe she was a wild animal.
I grimaced. This was bad. I had to do this quick or she’d bleed to death. Not the desirable outcome.
“This will probably hurt like hell but stay still.”
She nodded.
It was over in less than a minute. Why make her suffer for too long? I wasn’t a healer, but my father had been a soldier, and he’d taught me all I know about how to take care of one’s wounds.
Of course, it wasn’t pleasant for her. But fortunately, she wasn’t that helpless, since she carried the necessary items to disinfect and promptly bandage her side.
I had to give it to her; the girl was a tough cookie. And I wasn’t blind. She wasn’t without money, either.
I spotted a small pouch of clinking coins attached to her hip. It was so easy it was laughable. Even an amateur would’ve succeeded.
Most of my shirts were tailored to have pockets in the inside, near the waist to be able to pickpocket better, but I didn’t think it’d work with a pouch. It’d be hard to explain a sudden bulge in my side, or my stomach.
So I simply risked it and concealed it in my bag.
“That’s better… hurts like a bitch but I will live.” She said before looking over at him, looking into my eyes. It was a little uncomfortable. “And your name?”
“Well,” I sat back, not bothering to hide I liked the view. “I go by… different names. But, you, love, can call me Ryoran.”
Her right brow cocked. “Well, Ryoran, my name is Raine. Any way I could repay you for ripping those dammed arrows out of my back and arm? Though it’s not like I am good as new…” She mumbled the last bit, rolling her eyes, before letting out a sigh. Her large blue orbs then moved back to me. She was quite lovely looking for a warrior.
“I can think of plenty of ways you can repay me…” I chuckled and stood up. I needed to leave before she noticed. Asking her for money after having just stolen from her was low, even for him. “We’ll just say your charming attitude was enough payment, Raine.”
I made a salute and started walking away. “Have a nice life!”
We weren’t that far from the closest town, where I’d just make my delivery and claim the prize. If it worked out, I’d be set for at least two more months…
“Oi!” Raine yelled.
Ah, shit, you’ve got to be kidding me.
I turned to see her expression. Most of the time it was kinda funny.
Well, she was pissed. Time to go. There was no way she’d catch me in her state, so I took my time.
In that moment, he heard a loud whistle, and a whinny rang in response.
“Zamir! Stop him!”
Out of nowhere this black stallion leaped out of the trees. He snorted warningly at me, as if he would charge if I didn’t surrender. Yeah, this had to be a joke.
Raine managed to get on her feet, leaning her frame against a tree.
“You would steal from an injured woman?”
I gave her a neutral look. “I used to steal my grandma’s homemade pastries all the time. I’d steal from anyone, sweetheart.”
It was a slow trek from where she stood, to where the horse was practically glaring at me. Good god. When she finally did reach us, she drew her sword and pointed it at me. “Hand over my money. I worked far too hard to earn it.” She said, holding her other hand out to me.
“Ugh, fine.” I took the pouch of money from my bag and reluctantly put it on her hand. “In that case, you still owe me a payment. Technically, you stole like ten minutes of my life when I helped you.”
She raised both of her brows this time, before putting the pouch on her belt. “And what is it that you want? Besides my money.” She said putting her sword away before folding her arms, looking quite unamused. People these days; they just don’t know how to have fun.
I thought about it for a moment. What did I need? He needed a palace, money, lots of it, girls… It was a long list.
“How about a traveling companion? Are you up for it?”
She looked me up and down, as if appraising me. “So long as you don’t steal from me again…. Otherwise I’ll kill you… Where are you headed?”
“I won’t, I promise.” I grinned
The horse touched its snout to Raine’s head. Bloody horse.
“Just in time, Zamir. We’re leaving.”
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