@norcumii, who is lovely but also knows how easily I’m tricked into writing things, decided to share a post about the old guard and leverage knowing how much I love a good leverage au. Anyway this happened because, as I said, I am so easily tricked into writing fic.
Joe flipped to a new page as Nile took a seat next to him. She opted for braids for the job, and he had helped her tie them back that morning.
“So this is you working, is it?” she said.
“There are many ways to prepare,” he answered, and began to sketch a rough outline of the gallery, making sure to note the security measures. Booker should have already broken into the system, but Joe was more old fashioned. He liked to do his scouting on his own. “Booker and Andy drink, and I do this.”
In his artfully frayed hoodie and beanie, he was just another art student appreciating said art, in more ways than one.
“Sure.” Nile’s gaze was flitting to the exits, making her own notes of the security guards discreetly making their rounds around the edges. “And your preparation requires you to check out Nicky?”
“Do I make fun of you for hyping yourself up with music?” He didn’t need a reference to get the correct shape of Nicky’s brow and the set of his eyes and the quirk of his mouth, but he looked his fill anyway. He had yet to find anything as captivating as Nicky working.
“Constantly,” she said. She glanced at his sketchbook and snorted. “Seriously?”
“He has nice hands.” He nudged her. “Pay attention. We’re working on your skills. Watch how he moves.”
Statistically speaking, there was probably a more accomplished theif than Nicky, but Joe had yet to meet them, and he had been in this business for quite a long time. He worked with the best and the not so best, but he hadn’t met anyone who moved like Nicky when he was making a lift, fingers so light and sweet that he would be long gone by the time any of the marks noticed anything missing.
“Okay,” Nile said, something like respect in her voice. “How does he get away with it?”
“It’s his eyes,” Joe answered absently. Ah, the curator’s friend had arrived. He flipped to a new page, working fast to get “They’re so gentle and mysterious.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Nile said without any real heat. She was watching intently as Nicky made the lift. “Seriously, how does he do that?”
“I’m sure he’ll give you a demonstration later.” He slipped his sketchbook back into his pocket as Nicky made his way over. “You got it?”
“Of course,” Nicky answered, the badge held between two fingers before he stowed it somewhere on his person. “And you?”
“Just waiting on you,” Joe said. Nicky adjusted his beanie with a fond smile.
Nile rolled her eyes. “Can we go before we’re made?”
“If you insist,” Nicky said, and held out his hand for Joe to take. “Are we still on time?”
“I’ll make contact tomorrow at the gala,” Joe said, ducking his head against the wind as they stepped outside.
“What’s your approach?” Nile asked, curious. Joe appreciated her eagerness to learn all their roles.
“I was thinking a minor European aristocrat with too much money,” he answered, adopting the appropriate accent. “I just want to be taken seriously, after all.”
“I like that one,” Nicky agreed. “Very disarming.”
Joe tucked their linked hands into his pockets. “Thank you. You know how I like playing dumb.”
Nile made another noise and said, “Are you like this on every job?”
“No,” Nicky said, guileless. “We’re usually much worse.”
Joe laughed at Nile’s face and said, “You’ll get used to it.”
stormborns
titsay
vaporwave
