Chapter II

After the heated interrogation, Carmelita walks over to the break room. I really need a break after that.. What did he mean? He's gonna see me tonight? She grows a little flustered at the idea of Sly Cooper showing up at her house at night to romance her with surprise flowers, and maybe even an invitation to dinner. She immediately pushes these thoughts away. What the hell is wrong with me? He's a criminal! Dios mios..

"Constable Fox!" Her commanding chief barks at her from his office. Any thoughts she had about Cooper were gone now. Oh boy. She quickly walks out of the break room-not before grabbing a mug of coffee and scarfing down a donut-and walks into his office.

"Yes, chief?" She asks, anxious, as if she knows exactly what he's going to say.

"What the hell was that all about with the Cooper kid?" He retorts, angrily and demanding an answer. The chief is a large Rottweiler, with muscles to fit his oxford shirt and overall straps, fitting a badge and holster at his hip.

"Sir, I implore you that he's just pulling my leg, trying to get us all riled up and angry; you know how those pieces of trash work! Nothing else, I swear." Carmelita tries her best to get the chief's mind off the subject and on to another. "Did we pick up any leads for the robbery on the jewelry store in Place Vendome?"

The chief sports a look of distaste, and shoots a cold, bland "No." Back at her. "And look constable, if I find out there's anything going on between you and that felon, I swear you will be demoted so quickly you won't know what hit ya'!" He says, an elbow on the desk and a finger pointing at her, which doesn't help his furrowing eyebrows of anger.

"Of course sir! You can't really expect me to have a courtship with a piece of shit like him.." She tries desperately to come off as genuine. Of course I don't think that of him at all.. Wait what?! She internally fights with herself for a moment, which her brief change in face rewards some odd looks from the chief.

"I'm keeping my eye on you, constable.. Now go home, your shift is over." He relaxes in his chair, reclining back and pulling a file off of his desk, opening it.

"Yes sir, you have a good night.." She says, and turns to walk out the door, not looking back.

Ah, I need a shower, she thinks to herself, as she kicks off her shoes, throws her coat on the couch, and drops the keys on the kitchen counter with a soft clang. She waltzes towards the bathroom, with a stride in her walk and a swift kick of her hips each time she takes a step. Carmelita disrobes, turning on the shower, and gets in once it's nice and warm. I so deserve this.. she thinks as the hot water envelopes her whole body. She starts to feel her muscles and joints unwind under the heat, and begins to relax when suddenly- KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

Dammit! Someone at the door? The other officers never need anything from me, especially this late, they'll usually get a patrol squad to do their bidding. Well.. So much for my time off. She quickly turns the water off after a quick rinse, and dries off, throwing her clothes on and walking to the door, grabbing her pistol along the way and holding it low to her waist. She looks through the peephole and gasps loudly, immediately feeling a trillion butterflies fill up her stomach, and her face grows as hot as an oven. She opens the door quickly.

"Cooper!? What the hell are you doing here? And how did you get out?" She questions intensely.

"Don't worry about how I escaped, I have friends. And I DID say I'd see you tonight, didn't I?" Sly Cooper says, winking and smiling a bit at the vixen.

I'm so mad right now, but can't help but feel flattered that he DID actually show up.. Wait what the hell am I saying? This isn't right.. "No.. No no no you have to go!" She says, and begins to shut the door when Sly leans his upper body in, and holds the door open.

"Wait, Carmelita! Just give me a chance. I promise I'm not going to do anything stupid, and no one will find out I was ever here. Please, let me in."

Oh you big poop. I swear to god if he has roses.. She hesitantly opens the door, to let her forbidden lover inside. He smiles widely and walks in, takes her hand and kisses it, and raises it up to spin her around 'ballerina-style'. Carmelita bites her lip and plays along with the little dance, giggling quietly like a wooed schoolgirl. Wait, are you really just letting him sweep you off of your feet like this? He's no good! She regains her composure, and takes her hand away. "So.. Did you want to take me out to dinner as compensation for making my chief chew my ass out earlier?" She says, smirking slightly.

"I don't see any harm in that.. Sure, let's do it." He says, winking and taking her in his arms, wrapping his hands around her waist and pulling her into his body, as he looks into her eyes with deep passion and romance. Wha- I can't just let him do- then he leans down and kisses her, melting her. Oh, fuck it.

They break away from the kiss, both smiling. "You're terrible, you know that?" She says, prodding his chest playfully with one finger, and grinning.

"Only for you, gorgeous." He says with a wink. He goes down to kiss her again when-

"OPEN UP! WE KNOW YOU HAVE COOPER IN THERE WITH YOU, CONSTABLE!"

Oh shit, I'm such an idiot.

Sly and Carmelita both break away from each other, staring at one another with wide eyes and racing hearts, adrenaline coursing through their veins at a sudden notice.

'"Run." Sly says as he grabs Carmelita's hand and runs with her to the balcony. He looks at the vixen. "I'm gonna jump! Climb onto my back and hold on tight!" He says in a commanding voice.

"What?! Are you serious?!" She asks frantically.

"Just trust me! Get on!" He lowers himself down in the piggy back position and she grabs on to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and props her legs against his waist tightly. He jumps, and immediately upon doing so, he opens a hand-activated parachute he pulled from his belt buckle, that once you pull on the string it expands while in your hand. They both sail away into the night, and devise a plan on what to do next.

To be continued...