The Phantom Thief by Snowrabbit (short story to read TXT) 📖

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But I couldn’t shake of my fear that that was a spur of the moment thing and I actually didn’t want to take advantage of him, so I ended the kiss, looking at him.
He still looked somehow dazed, probably not exactly sure what just happened, but it was far too late for me to stop what I would have to do eventually anyway.
I looked directly into his eyes, where confusion gradually began to form.
“Look... I know it probably isn’t the best way - or the best time - to say it, but I think I’d never do anything if I don’t say it now, so...”
I took a deep breath.
“I love you. I know it might be awkward for you, being loved by a guy and everything, but... I hope it doesn’t freak you out completely...?”
Finally it was said. Unsure I waited for his reaction, but trying to make sure he got that I was totally serious with what I said, even if I might not have used the best words for it.
And though it needed a while for my words to sink in, the reaction finally came. First, his eyes changed from confusion to realization as he got what I told him, but he stayed silent.
I would’ve done anything to get him to say something, do something, anything, but I didn’t knew what so instead I just waited.
And in the end, he started to shake his head. “That’s a joke, right....? A pretty stupid one, but a joke...” , he began, sounding a little bit desperate.
It might have been a chance for me to lie, to tell him that yes, it was a joke and laugh it off, but I couldn’t. It was better if he knew, even if that meant that I’d lose him. So I shook my head.
“Sorry, but I was completely serious. And I still am.” I sighed. “You know, as a thief, I only steal things I care about... but right now, I just can’t bring myself to care. You’re the only thing in my mind. I only... want to steal your heart.”
God, that was mushy. But it was the truth. I just wondered how Alan would react. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining things, if my love struck mind was playing tricks on me but it looked like he was blushing slightly. Though his words said otherwise.
“But I... you... I mean... that’s stupid!”
I furrowed my brows, waiting for him to continue.
“We’re both guys! Also, I don’t even know your name or anything

important about you! You just want to confuse me, right? Trying to keep me from catching you one day! Stop it, I won’t fall for that anymore, count me out of this!”
I wanted to respond, telling him that he presumed the wrong things - because I definitely didn’t

do that stuff just to confuse him or anything - but he turned around and ran, vanishing too fast between the dancers which made it impossible to follow him...


Chapter Fourteen (Yuri)

And just like that I found myself at the police station, a few weeks after that disastrous masked ball. My siblings knew about everything and finally, after moping a while, I made this decision. It was no use in trying to steal anything in my condition and there was only one thing that would cure it, so I took the last - and probably riskiest - step to try that. Arriving as myself, without any disguise.
I walked up to the woman who sat behind the desk and greeted her friendly.
“Good Morning. Could you please tell me whom I have to contact if I might know something about a certain case?”
She frowned. “Well... which ‘case’ do you refer to?”
“The one about the Phantom Thief.”
Her eyes went wide. “Well... if you know something about that, you might as well tell me. I can pass the information on.”
“Well... actually, I wanted to talk to a specific policeman...”
“Why?”
“Personal matters. But I am certain, that the information might help you catch the thief and I won’t tell it anyone else.”, I answered stubbornly. I wasn’t stupid, I knew that it wouldn’t help my plans in the slightest if I just went and told any other police officer except Alan what I wanted to say.
She tried to argue but I wouldn’t change my request so in the end, she gave up.
“Fine... but I honestly hope, that your information is worth the trouble. You know, police officers have work too, even if they are here. Paperwork doesn’t finish itself. So, with whom do you want to talk?”
I nodded and told her Alans name. She searched shortly at her computer - probably figuring out where he worked exactly - before she stood up and motioned to me to follow her. I did just that as she walked through the building, until we finally reached a room, where a lot of people seemed to have their desks to work.
“Alan?”, she asked, loud enough to be heard over the chaos and just as I found him sitting behind his desk he looked up.
It actually was kind of funny that his eyes didn’t instantly showed suspiciousness and caution, but instead confusion, as he looked at me. Like I said, Lilys costumes were good

...
Anyway, he walked up to us to ask, what was wrong.
“That guy here wants to tell you something, he said he won’t tell it anyone else but it would be important. You know him?”, the woman explained and he looked at me again, frowning.
“No, I don’t think so...”
“Anyway, I hope whatever it is helps you.”
She rolled her eyes at me again before leaving the room, probably to go back to the front desk.
Alan looked at me with raised eyebrows. “So... you only want to tell me

whatever it is?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice because he’d probably recognize it right away, which would be bad. At least, in front of so many people.
“Fine... then follow me.”
He led me to some kind of interrogation room, which currently was empty and seemingly unsupervised.
After he closed the door behind me, he turned around to look at me.
“So... what do you want?”
I sighed inwardly. It was probably now or never, huh? So I returned his look, trying to look as serious as possible.
“I want to turn myself in.”
His eyes went wide as he recognized my voice and he took a surprised step backwards.
“Phantom?!”
“Actually, it’s Yuri.”
“What?”
I took a deep breath.
“My name. It’s Yuri. I’m currently twenty-two, living in a pretty big flat near the city centre with my three siblings - though I won’t tell you their names, because that’s not my place to do that - and my hobbies are playing video games, working out and sometimes sewing. Don’t look at me like that, yes, men can like sewing too, it’s relaxing and surprisingly fun. My blood type is AB negative, my favorite colours are blue - who would’ve guessed? - and black, I like rock music, spaghetti and if I’m right and I hate it if I can’t get what I want, lose in any of my video games or if I’m proven wrong. Why I’m stealing and everything I have already told you a while back, so... Is there anything else you want to know?”
After that speech I watched as his face turned from completely surprised to a frown before he started to look confused.
“Why are you telling me all this...?”
“Well... I already told you, I want to turn myself in. Oh, and you said you don’t know anything about me. Now you do, and you can ask me whatever you want, I’ll answer truthfully, I promise.”
His frown came back. “But why? Why do you suddenly want to turn yourself in?!”
I raised my eyebrow and smiled sadly. “You still don’t know? I already told you, I don’t care about stealing anymore. Not if there’s something I want so much more.” I looked him directly into the eyes. “I still love you, you know? And that won’t change anytime soon. So I thought, why bothering with stealing if I can’t get what I want the most anyway? Your rejection was pretty clear to me...”
It stung, having to say that aloud again, but I actually had no time to think it over again, as Alan suddenly grasped my shoulders, slammed me against the nearest wall and glared at me.
“You idiot!”
I blinked. “What are you-” But he cut me off.
“Do you have any idea how incredibly stupid that was?! Coming here undisguised, wanting to turn yourself in...! You can’t do that, just because of me!”
Frowning, I looked at him. “Well, what should I’ve done in your opinion? Just sitting around at home, boring myself to death?”
“No, but... something! There has to be something else you can do except for stealing!”
“Well sure, but nothing could distract me enough to not think about you. So I figured this was the easiest way to talk to you without you being able to run away again. I just wanted to tell you that I absolutely meant what I said back then and... yeah, I thought that you’d like it if at least you were the one who could arrest me...” I shrugged. “Though I can go out and announce to everyone else who I am if you want.”
“No!”
I frowned again. “Then what do

you want me to do?” He opened his mouth to answer but I wasn’t finished yet. “And please don’t tell me to just ‘not steal’ and search for something else to-“
Before I could finish that sentence, I was interrupted. In a very... interesting way.
Yes, he kissed me.
It was only a little one, but it shut me up pretty effectively as I simply stared at him, waiting for an explanation.
“Well... sorry about that, I needed you to be quiet for a second.”, he mumbled, red rising to his cheeks as he looked at my flabbergasted expression. “Actually, I wanted to tell you that for the past two weeks already, but you never showed up, so I wasn’t able to do so. When you kissed me at the ball I... just kind of freaked out and ran. I know how it must’ve looked to you, though back then, I couldn’t care less... so I went to visit my older sister for a while, you know, to prevent you from visiting me. But in the end, I kept thinking about you anyway and... well, my sister helped a good deal, but in the end, I got it... I might actually like you too... I just didn’t know if you were serious, so I hoped that, after I went home, you’d show up again at my doorstep, so that I could ask you, but... see what you’ve gotten yourself into...”
I blinked, unsure if I had heard correctly or if I had just imagined that.
“You mean, you... changed your mind?” Hope started to well up inside of me.
“You could say that, yes... though I think that I only needed time to accept it and never really... well... disliked you. Except for the start, that

kiss was unnecessary!”
But I hadn’t really heard the last part, as a grin spread over my face and I pulled him closer.
“I love you!” I told him, still grinning like a madman, before I closed the gap between us once more and kissed him for all it was worth. And this time I was sure I didn’t imagine it, as he kissed back enthusiastically.
Though he soon stopped it again.
“Look, we’re still at the police station! And we can’t stay in here