“ Come back here, y’ thief! ” Such exclamations were hardly unheard in Lindblum’s beggar district, and Axel didn’t even really pay attention to the piqued voice and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps nor the sight of the blond quickly and nimbly streaking past him, until he was almost ran off the street entirely by his pursuers. A noisy exhale of air was forced from his lungs as a sharp elbow harshly punted him in the ribs, followed by the hard slam of a shoulder. “ Outta my way, slumrat, ” the man growling his dismissal, though practically reeking of hard liquor, was still surprisingly steady on his feet and followed closely by four equally burly companions.
Now under normal circumstances, Axel wouldn’t really bother giving chase as he did like keeping a low profile while on a job; but the ache in his ribs and shoulder made him feel less than charitable on that account and even he still had some morals left. Five against one? That thief didn’t stand a chance if they managed to catch up – which, from the looks and sounds of it, was liable to happen sooner rather than later. A sharp cry of pain, followed by the blunt sound of a fist hitting flesh. Axel sped up, rounded the corner of the short alley he’d seen them turn into and found the thief in question cornered by the five men, already on the ground. Probably tried escaping via the rooftops but … Well, always a better idea in theory, that.
“ My, what’s this? Did someone organise a slum party without deigning to invite me? I’m offended, ” his voice cut smooth through the jeering laughter of the other four, and he let his lips curl into a smirk the moment they turned as one; the leader, the one who’d bowled into him looking at him with barely concealed hostility. “ What’s it to ya?! Get fuckin’ lost ya –, ” the words were cut off with a sudden shriek, blisters appearing on the man’s hand, the man’s face, skin turning red and redder still the closer Axel came. “ Seems like a bit of an unfair fight, if you ask me. ”
Uncurling his fist, the blisters disappeared as soon as they’d appeared; he stepped past the group easily enough, meeting each of their wary, dull angry gazes before firmly placing himself between the thief and his aggressors. Flames appeared between his fingers, morphing into a pair of sharp throwing blades. “ Now how about taking on someone your own size, hmn? ”
