Job Ten: 
Love is Quite Blind

    It took great skill and great discipline to become a decent thief. Some caught on quicker than others, and even more found new ways of stealing from the weak and poor. However, some thieves only stole things so they could punish the rich and feed the poor, much like the great Robin Hood.

    Ahura Mazda Osiris had no intention of becoming like Robin Hood, because even the good were corrupt. He only wished to fulfill his own goals and dreams, and if he had help or competition, then so be it.

    He just never had excepted some many things to happen in succession. A dragon, the legendary Hai and Zai at his finger tips, and the unknown power that was put inside him against his will. Life just never worked out how he had expected it, nothing ever did.

    The musings of the green haired thief were interrupted by the clear voice of his small bondmate, or as Ahura really preferred, partner. Ahura did not bother to respond verbally as he waited for the dragon's clear signel.

    *Go! He's gone! You've got two minutes to disable this alarm before he returns.* The wyrm was curled up between display case and the ropes. Even with the flashlight the Rent-A-Cop was oblivious to his presence.

    As swift as the desert wind the eighteen year old slipped over to the display and leapt over the ropes in one graceful motion. The object did not seem to be of much value at first glance, in fact one could have mistaken it for gifts from tourist traps. The statue stood no more than five inches, but was decorated by various tiny jewels that formed the visage of the goddess of Isis.

    Frankly, Ahura could care less. Without the remote feeling of guilt he silently displaced the alarm, cut a hole in the glass, grabbed the item and hid it in his strange outfit all in a matter of a minute and fifty seconds.

    *He's coming! Hurry!*

    Ahura could not even hear the man's foot steps, but he complied with the request anyway. He grabbed the wyrm and sped over to the opening. This time Anghiari had not accompanied them, and it was all up to the thief to set everything up. Just like the old times when he was alone and miserable.

    In record time he had climbed the rope, pulled it up, and had secured the skylight. Ahura watched the security guard's face change from placid to horrified as he viewed the crime. A smirk crossed the face of the proud thief, "This one isn't the brightest crayon in the book, and thank the heavens for it."

    *Mmm, you're very right about that. Hey, is it just me or is it getting easier and easier to pilfer things?* Raphael looked at him with his huge round Devgan eyes.

    "It's just you."

    *Oh well then, at least it's a fun job.*

    The man simply snorted.

***

    "This is the fifth episode this week." A woman of medium stature was hunched over staring at a calling card left by the thief. Once again the infamous king of bandits, outlaws, thieves and anyone outside of the law had stolen a one of a kind artifact. Once again Chiara Duci was on the case that she despised. She should probably be on something much easier, since she was still classified as a "noob" by the boys of the squad. Unfortunately for her, she was a child prodigy who had managed to pass police squad training in half the time a normal person would have. In fact, Chiara was only eighteen years old.

    Her partner came up besides her, and patted her on the back. "I know this is another difficult case, but we don't have a choice."

    The long haired brunette sighed, "Spyridon, you don't know the half of it. I swear the higher ups want to fire me and not solving the case is the perfect excuse."

    The man let out a sigh of his own. "The said part is I don't think you're paranoid." He was in his late twenties and should have been taken to a desk job, but the masculine Spyridon insisted on having field duty. The higher ups did not appreciate his defiance, so the had paired him up with the rookie.

    She was a very skilled rookie, and nice to look at to boot. (Hey! An unmarried man could dream!)

    "So, did he leave any clues besides his favorite business card?" Chiara looked to her complain who seemed to be gazing into space. "Earth to Spyridon! This is Earth, can you get me clear on Mars?"

    "Huh?" Her comrade snapped back to reality, "No! There aren't any other clues but... do you think this has a connection to the assassination of the Martial diplomat?"

    The young Chi had to admit her friend could connect some of the strangest things. "They did say the assassin--Anghiari, I think,--joined forces with that jerk."

    "That would explain why the hits are so close to each other. You check the rumor mill, what else is new?" Spyridon inquired.

    "He's gained a data translator and they say he's been sighted with a dragon."

    "But dragons don't exist--not in this part of the universe, anyway."

    Chi shrugged, "It is a rumor mill for a reason."

    "Let's see if we can trace him." Spyridon headed towards the stairs.

    "Go ahead! I'll meet you there! I want to stay behind and scrutinize the damn scene again." She watched as he gave a nod and continued on his way. Yes, today was going to be a very long day.

***

    *Is that all it costs?* Raphael had his nose pressed to the computer screen, creating an obnoxiously huge smudge.

    "Unfortunately, Yes." Sin said as she cleaned her keyboard.

    "I can't believe it, not in the least bit." Ahura was sulking on the sofa.

    "You'd better, because nothing is going to change the facts." Sindiri growled before continuing, "Gi should be back any minute, and she'll be successful. I hope you boys feel like utter losers."

    *You're not very nice.*

    "I agree with Raphael."

    "Shut up. Both of you."

    The door flung open with a crash and the lady assassin came storming in. She was cursing as she made her way to the bathroom, only to slam the door and curse some more.

    *I don't think she had a successful mission.*

    Ahura nodded in agreement and Sin gave them both a dirty look. She elected herself to be the unfortunate soul to confront the angry assassin. It was easier than she had expected.

    "So, you mean to tell me the security was there before you had a chance to make the hit?"

    "Exactly. Someone must have tipped them off, and you know what my employer did?  The chicken ran off!" She banged her fist on the table. "Bastard."

    "If it makes you feel any better, Raphael and I were unsuccessful in pilfering an expensive artifact." Ahura poured coffee into Gi's mug.

    "It only makes me feel worse." She sighed and took a huge swig of the freshly poured cup. "Well, at least I got to see a nice looking guy. I mean one that isn't eighteen."

    "Why thank you."

    Anghiari smiled. "You know one day you're going to meet a nice pretty girl, fall in love, and she's going to kick your sorry little behind."

    "Not very likely."

    "How much do you want to bet?"

    *Can we get back to business? What are we going to do now that neither group was successful?* Raphael tilted his to the side inquisitively.

    "Good question," Ahura paused, "but we can't stay here very long. The cops will be after us."

    "No kidding," Gi muttered as she finished off her coffee. "Since they don't know what you really look like you'll be fine. However, wings are difficult to hide."

    *Gi?*

    "What Raphael?"

    *Why do you have those things? Do they do anything?*

    The black haired assassin shrugged. "They look good."

    *Ah... okay. Subject dropped.* He was disappointed, but he was used to it by now. His bondmate was a bit of a flake, and his company consisted of Miss Mysterious and Miss Blunt. What else had Raphael expected? A sensible remark?

   That was far too much to ask.

***

    "Break my butt! He just wants to flirt with the damn secretary again." Chiara grumbled as she swiftly made her way to the near by coffee shop. The trail had gone as dead and cold as a limp fish, and Chi was rather miffed off about it. She opened the door and was given her usual greeting from the same nicely dressed good looking waiter, who always greeted her when she had the late night shift. He also had the ability to cheer her up, but today was different.

    "Sorry Miss Duci, you'll have to share a table tonight."

    "Peachy," She shrugged and was efficiently lead to her favorite seat. Today a young man and a... thing were sitting there. The third stool was beckoning for her.

    Grumbling she sat down and gave the strangers a smile of greeting. Neither looked up to acknowledge her.

    Fine they could be that way, even if the one with the green hair was the cutest man she had ever seen her whole entire life. Whoa! What was she thinking, this was just a random stranger and his... what was that thing?

    "He's a dragon, just so you know." The man, Ahura, whispered.

    Chi blinked. "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

    "He's a dragon, and his name is Raphael. He wants to know yours."

    "Chiara Duci."

    "Well then, Miss Chiara Duci, it's wonderful to meet you, and I absolutely hate to say Good-bye when we've all just met." Ahura rose from the table and began to leave with his companion in his arms.

    "Wait one second! What's your name?" Chiara had no idea that she was standing when she said this, and later when she recalled the incident she would not understand why she had done so.

    The boy gave no reply as the door jiggled behind him.

    But Chi still heard someone's voice whisper in her head, *He's Osiris!*

    Neither Ahura or Chi knew it yet, but they would be meeting each other once again, soon enough, and next time the waiter would not be left with a hundred dollar tip.