Not sure what I was expecting, but this late September evening is no different than most others. A light breeze carries the promise of cooler weather to come as I stand atop one of the many buildings that litter the Manhattan skyline. I peer down onto the busy street, the sound of honks and people yelling and laughing giving it life, along with the many lights of the city piercing the dark sky as night descends upon the Big Apple like a blanket; truly the city that never sleeps. Even under my mask, the smell of this part of town fills my nostrils and makes me crinkle my nose under the fabric.
As much as I'd love to be lounging on the couch catching up on the latest Netflix binge, I've got a job to do. Well... job is a bit of an exaggeration. The museum below me houses a priceless artifact; a jewel rumored to have extraordinary power, though I don't believe in all that hocus pocus. What I do know is that jewel would fetch me a pretty penny, and I could definitely use the money as I'm quite deep in the shitter funds-wise. They say to never live beyond your means, and to that I say bullshit.
This isn't exactly my first rodeo as I've been doing this for a few years now, but only when I'm not exactly liquid with cash. Hey, I'm no Boy Scout but I'm definitely not a villain! Anyway, it was an old friend who kinda got me into this business. She's perfected the craft, but I'm no slouch either as I've learned a few tricks over the years.
I tap the screen on my wrist and it comes to life, showing me the movement of museum security through their hacked cameras as I plan my perfect time to strike. Security is light throughout the night, and the night guard will be relieving the daytime security pretty soon; my perfect moment. I've been planning this job for a few weeks, monitoring the shifts of security and when they end/begin, placement of cameras and possible points of entry. I found a storage room that seems to be the path of least resistance for my prize.
Leaving my perch atop the museum, I begin making my way down the far side of the building, taking caution to avoid any prying eyes. These gripping gloves and shoes keep me tethered to the wall, just like Spider-Man. Technology is a hell of a thing! I crawl my way to the window of the storage room, taking my laser cutter out of my belt to cut an entrance for myself through the window. I grip the glass cutout to keep it from falling as I sneak through the entry point I've just made and find my footing. I carefully place the glass flat onto the floor before disengaging the grip on my gloves to release it.
Not much excitement in here; only a few tall bookshelves lined with old books and knickknacks throughout the room, dimly illuminated by the 3 hanging lights from the tall ceiling along with a few boxes scattered here and there, but otherwise the room is pretty organized. I take a few steps towards the door before I hear a voice from above me.
"What's a fine piece like you doing in a place like this?"
The sudden noise almost makes me jump out of my skin, and I look up to see a dark mass slowly floating down towards me. She lands gracefully on her feet and she's completely clad in all black, save for a pink heart outlining her large bust. Her silhouette is outlined by the lights from the city outside the window, highlighting her large ears and her outstretched wings. I take in her small form as she puts all of her weight on one leg, one hand confidently on her hip as she speaks up again.
"I asked you something." She teases.
"I could ask you the same thing, stranger." I finally find my voice, sounding a bit more giddy than I intended.
"It has been a while, hasn't it handsome?" She lightly laughs as she steps towards me with the grace of a cat... but she's a bat.
She saunters until she's standing directly in front of me, her large chest almost pressing into my stomach. She removes her mask and I see that beautiful face once again; white fur adorning her head and those big, cute ears. Her lashes are immaculate as is her eyeshadow that I see every time she blinks. Those large, emerald eyes feel like they peer into my soul, and the light of the room glints off of one of her fangs as she gives me a big smile.
"Too long. I thought you might have retired." This pulls a laugh from her.
"Oh please. I was made for this life. Every beautiful gem belongs to me; I just haven't collected them all yet." She winks at me and it almost makes me melt.
"But seriously... it's good to see you." She says with sincerity as she places a hand on my chest.
"It's good to see you too, Rouge. But what are you here for? Museums were never really your style from what I can remember."
Her hand leaves my chest to cross her arms. "Same thing as you, I'm assuming. Green gem, rumored to be super powerful, yada yada?"
"That's the one." I trail off as the crossing of her arms enhances her bust through her suit, and I'm becoming entranced.
"Hey hot shot. My eyes are up here." Her giggle snaps me out of my trance and I'm so thankful for my mask to hide my blushing face in this moment.
I scramble to check the screen on my wrist in an attempt to retain some of my dignity, but the smirk on her face tells me she sees right through that.
"Well, uh... That might be a bit of a problem since we're, uh... after the same thing." Stammering to get the words out of my mouth.
"That's very true. So how are we going to remedy this, John?" She inquires.
We've had a bit of a checkered past, to put it lightly. An apt description of our relationship when we first met would be best put as "frenemies." We were rivals in the truest sense of the word, but we've come to respect each other over the years, and she kinda took me under her (literal) wing. She taught me a lot of tricks and how to fight, of course with a lot of flirting in between in the usual Rouge way. That didn't mean we wouldn't still occasionally run off with the prize while leaving the other high and dry fighting off security and the police; we are thieves after all.
It seemed as if Rouge had all but disappeared one day. I had begun to see her as a good friend, and I was worried that something might have happened to her. I did what I could to investigate into her whereabouts. I figured I'd find something because let's be honest, she doesn't my exactly blend into a crowd, but my efforts were fruitless. I checked the news everyday to see if the infamous Rouge the Bat had finally been arrested, but nothing on that end either. It truly felt like mourning the loss of a friend after exhausting all of my options. But here she was; in the gorgeous flesh, safe and sound.
With my previous statement of being in the shitter, I really needed a win on this job. But seeing her after all this time has lifted a weight off of my shoulders I didn't know I was carrying and I'm feeling generous. But then again... this might be a ploy of hers to get me in this exact mindset. I think of a solution that may benefit both of us.
"How about this: we split the profit. How's that? Half of that should set you up for a while. What do ya say?" I shrug as I pitch the idea to her.
Rouge taps a finger thoughtfully against her chin as she slowly paces around me. "Hmmm." She circles me like a shark and after two laps she stops front and center again.
"That is an idea... but what if I want to keep it? Although I could really use the money." After a few more thoughtful taps to her chin, she places her hands back on her hips.
