The Little Thief in New Orleans

I'm called Liam. I was once called by a different name, but that was a very long time ago. I spent my entire life running from someone who was trying to kill us; someone I now know is dead. The thing is how do you stop doing something that you've been doing all of your life? In my world, you don't. That's why I like thieving. What I do is get to the things that no one else can get and take it right from under their noses. I was born to be invisible and when you're invisible, you can do anything. I help provide leverage.

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

Revenge in San Lorenzo (Alicia and Liam)

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

She had her eyes closed when he spoke and his words caused a soft smirk to form on her lips. “They’ll have other chances. Maybe.” She said as she opened her eyes and sat up to look at him.

"Yeah, I am okay. It just felt a little strange to go back home and…" She took a deep breath before finishing the sentence. "… it not being home anymore." New Orleans wasn’t home, she was there on borrowed time and New York wasn’t home either, at least not yet. She felt homeless.

"How are you?" She asked in genuine concern as she eyed his injuries.

[thievingliam-blog]

"Yeah," Liam said softly as he smiled a little at her. "Maybe." This was fun. Running around with Alicia as they played cop. He wouldn’t mind doing it again, minus the beating of course.

"At least you had a home," he muttered as he started playing around with his watch. His home was a car with his parents and as much fun as it might have been, it wasn’t a house or a place that he felt safe. Hell it wasn’t even the same car. Now that he was stuck in New Orleans, he can sort imagine it as home, but he wouldn’t know it even if it was.

At her concern he smiled and shook his head. “Nothing I can’t handle, I promise you.”

[thievingliam-blog]

Coming Back (Alicia)

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

She nodded in agreement, a smile on her lips that enlightened her face and reached her light coloured eyes. “Parents are pissed because we cut the line, and bored too, but the children; they don’t even care.” She glanced over at two siblings chatting away, not even paying attention to their surroundings. “They enjoy the lines to.” She smiled more at that and pulled him by the hand when people started moving towards the ride.

[thievingliam-blog]

Liam smiled as he glanced at all of their faces. He remembered being one of those kids, just being happy that his parents found enough money to make it to Disney World. He let Alicia pull him forward and despite how much the kids might like the rides, he didn't mind moving things along. They were at the front in no time and he looked at Alicia just before they made it to the front. "Do you want to sit in the front or the back?"

[thievingliam-blog]

Business as Usual (Blake and Liam)

[blakeraymond-grifter]

Blake nodded faintly as Liam pointed out the moved camera to him. “You think its another thief?” He supposed he was stereotyping a little, but he couldn’t think of any one other than a thief who would even think about moving a camera so they wouldn’t be seen, hitters and grifters often went for the easiest route to get where they needed to be, though their definitions of ‘easiest’ differed greatly, and hackers could simply create a video loop that showed no one being there.

[thievingliam-blog]

Liam studied the camera, trying to pin everything in his head. "There's at least two people as work here. One of which is probably cleaning or maintenance. If they're thieves they're obviously amateur." Liam rolled his eyes at the thought. Every good thief knew that moving the camera created suspicion and the good thieves avoided them all together.

[nicolebennet]

Miss Missing You || Bennet & Liam

[nicolebennet]

Old habits die hard, especially in the hitter’s case. She had gotten cheated out of her money far too many times, and though she had usually gotten everything she deserved in the end, in the beginnings she’d gotten in a pinch because she didn’t have the money to stay anywhere. Now she just takes pride in knowing that she’s not cheated on.

"That’s fine," she replied as she pocketed the money. "Fifty-fifty would’ve just been unfair. Just saying."

As they neared the base, she started to pick up her pace. She had just realised that she hadn’t eaten since she woke up, and at that her stomach began to complain. With one of the bags of food in her hand, she opened the door to the base and let Liam inside.

[thievingliam-blog]

Considering the fact that he was the one who had helped her get the money in the first place, he didn't think the fifty-fifty split was unfair but he didn't bother saying anything about it. He didn't care much about it anyway.

He adjusted the bag in his hands as he slid inside of the base, feeling strange about not using his normal alternative routes. Going through the door wasn't nearly as much fun as climbing down the vents. He placed the bags down on the counter and started to get plates on the counter. "You want something to drink? Water, beer, soda?"

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

Revenge in San Lorenzo (Alicia and Liam)

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

Alicia sat on the bed, a faint smile forming on her lips as she turned to Liam, nodding. Then, she looked at Lizzie. "Have a car pick us up in hour and half like you said, and I take it you’ll take care of our luggage and of Bea’s and Ismael’s official leave of San Lorenzo?” Because they couldn’t just leave lose ends, if the young couple on honeymoon had come by plane, then, they’d have to leave the same way, even if Liam and Alicia didn’t.

Lizzie nodded and walked out, Alicia slumped on the bed again, smiling.

[thievingliam-blog]

Liam wasn't going to lie, he was glad to be going. Even though he didn't like staying in New Orleans most of the time, he was starting to miss his little space there. "Are you sure you're okay?" Liam asked with a little smile. It seemed strange for him to ask that when he was the one injured. "I'm kind of sorry that Bea and Ismael are leaving. Too bad their honeymoon was cut short."

[thievingliam-blog]

Business as Usual (Blake and Liam)

[blakeraymond-grifter]

"On top of a building? Maybe if this were business hours, but seeing as how late it is in the day, I highly doubt it." Blake said, shaking his head. He was a bit stumped as to why Liam was leaving it up to him as to whether or not they check out the shadow, then again maybe the thief didn’t want to draw any undo attention. "Seeing as how close they are to your potential place of business it might be a good idea to check it out. If only to rid yourself of one potential future problem." With that, Blake began making his way towards the building the shadow was on.

[thievingliam-blog]

Liam knew that Blake was right and that his instincts were right, but he was still hoping they were wrong. He didn't want any trouble right then and the last thing he wanted was to give the grifter a bad image of him. The minute they walked into the building, his eyes darted around and noticed the camera that had obviously been moved. That was never a good sign. "Someone else is here," he said motioning to the camera.

[thievingliam-blog]

Coming Back (Alicia)

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

She nodded in understanding. "Like I know how to pickpocket or pick simple locks." She looked around at all the people, taking their expressions in, almost one by one. She nodded again when he told her it would be a five minute line and got closer to speak on his ear. "Have you noticed the children’s faces?" She asked him as she studied them.

[thievingliam-blog]

Liam's mind had been on other things that he hadn't taken the time to look around, but at Alicia's suggestion, he looked to the many faces of the kids around him. He smiled at their eager and impatient faces as they He remembered being one of those kids and his heart warmed a little at the memory. His eyes traveled to Alicia's face with a smile. "They look about the same as your face right now," he teased.

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

Revenge in San Lorenzo (Alicia and Liam)

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

Alicia thought of when she wanted to go back to the States. technically she was home, but it didn’t feel like home anymore. She felt she couldn’t be there any longer; now that they didn’t have the job to focus on and adding to the fact she’d actually been inside the Villa her memories were swimming inside her brain and she wasn’t able to control how she felt about them. It was still too soon.

She sat up and looked at him. "You still need to rest for at least a day or two...” It wasn’t an answer to what she wanted to do, but it was the right thing to do at the moment.

[lizziethefinderhelps-blog]

Lizzie leaned against the door from and raised her eyebrows at Alicia.

"Sweetie, do you realize you didn’t answer the question?" Of course she did, it was Alicia after all. She sighed and approached the bed, knowing how the girl must feel. She smirked.

"You seem to be forgetting I bend the rules. If you want to leave this afternoon just be at the Villa in one hour and half, I’ll have a car pick you up. You’re going home on a private jet, there will be a doctor on board with you just in case.” She glanced at Liam, looking for his support.

[thievingliam-blog]

"I can travel, Alicia," Liam assured her with a weak smiled. "I lasted an entire day without any help from a real doctor. I'm sure a little plane ride won't do me any harm." He didn't want to admit that he wanted to get home and just relax on his hammock.

"It's really up to you if you're ready to leave your home or not." He had a feeling that she was, but he didn't want to say it out loud.

[thievingliam-blog]

Coming Back (Alicia)

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

At first Alicia didn’t reply; instead she followed him in silence and smiling, intrigued at how that was going to go, her smiled widened as Liam stepped up to the worker and when they got inside she curled her hand around his upper arm, getting closer to him.

“It’s as real as they want it to be...” She repeated softly. "You sounded like a grifter! You know, I am starting to think me and Blake are rubbing off on you." She fell silent again wondering if Blake would rub off on Liam since he was so suspicious of grifters, maybe Liam didn’t even hang with Blake that much, maybe it was just her. And if so, why her? She shrugged the thought away and let his hand drift to his own pulling him as she fastened her pace. “Come on, let’s get wet!”

[thievingliam-blog]

Liam smiled at what she was insinuating, but didn't correct her. Hanging out with grifters was rubbing off on him a little, Alicia more than Blake however. Now that he thought about it, he spent a lot of time with Alicia. He assumed that it was because they were friends-who-told-each-other-stuff. "Well every good thief has to know how to grift a little. It's part of the game." He flashed her a quick smile as he let her lead him through the line.

As they walked through, he caught the gaze of a few weary people glaring at them for being able to skip the line they have been waiting in for hours. He also saw people smile at them, no doubt because they thought he was a good boyfriend and was allowing his girlfriend to lead him around. They reached to where the fast pass lane blended in with the normal people and he leaned against the wall. "It's only a five minute wait from here. Don't worry."

[thievingliam-blog]

Business as Usual (Blake and Liam)

[thievingliam-blog]

Liam glanced at where the shadow was as he listened to Blake’s words. He could say something and maybe when it turns out it was just his paranoia, Blake wouldn’t give him a hard time. Or maybe he wouldn’t. Regardless, his instinct is telling him to run to run as fast as he could and that wasn’t something to ignore completely. “I, uh… I just thought I saw someone on the roof. It’s probably my imagination or something.”

[blakeraymond-grifter]

Blake squinted slightly as he followed Liam’s line of sight up onto one of the rooftops nearby. His were no doubt no where near as good as the other man’s when it came to spotting small details, but after a moment of looking he noticed a shadow that stood out from the rest of the building. “Well, if you’re imagining things then I must be too, because I think I see something as well.”

[thievingliam-blog]

Liam glanced at the spot again, the hairs on the back of his neck going up. If Blake saw it too then there was no way he was wrong. That is unless he was saying he saw something to make Liam feel better. He wouldn't put it past a grifter to do that. "We can check it out, if you want," he said as nonchalantly as possible. "It could just be some kid looking for a place to smoke." He was hoping that it was just some kid looking for a place to smoke.

[thievingliam-blog]

Business as Usual (Blake and Liam)

[blakeraymond-grifter]

Blake gave Liam a disbelieving look at the weak grin he received from the thief. “Liam,” he began as he slowed down. “We’re part of a team, if you think something’s wrong or if something’s bothering you, you don’t have to keep it hidden.” He was probably making a mountain out of a molehill, and nothing was really bothering the thief, but Blake wanted to make sure the other man knew he could rely on the team, to help him out if he were ever in trouble. He knew that out of all of the people on his team, Liam was the one who’d taken the longest to adjust to trusting the people he worked with to have his back, so he was still uncertain where they stood in terms of trust. “I mean I would assume that you’d trust me to have your back since you’re letting me help you with your watch repair shop.”

[thievingliam-blog]

Liam glanced at where the shadow was as he listened to Blake's words. He could say something and maybe when it turns out it was just his paranoia, Blake wouldn't give him a hard time. Or maybe he wouldn't. Regardless, his instinct is telling him to run to run as fast as he could and that wasn't something to ignore completely. "I, uh... I just thought I saw someone on the roof. It's probably my imagination or something."

[thievingliam-blog]

Coming Back (Alicia)

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

Alicia glared at the little card he was holding and gave him a knowing smirk.

"Is that thing real?" She asked him on a tone of secrecy as she glanced at it. "I’ve never seen one of those before, but then again, I’ve only been to the park in Paris." She shrugged, she had the feeling it wasn’t real, but only because this was Liam that they were talking about and she knew enough off him to know that either he’d stolen it or forged it. Normal people would never suspect.

[thievingliam-blog]

Liam smiled at her question and ran a finger over the card. "It's as real as they want it to be. These things are said to be a myth anyway, but I've seen one before. Some duchess had it." She was a brat and Liam was tempted to take it from her, but the duchess was also the only reason why he made it out of the country. "It'll get us through, that's all that matters."

They made their way to the front of the line and Liam showed the worker the card with a brief smile. The worker's eyes widened and he didn't seem to believe it at first. He glanced around and looked like he wanted to ask someone about it, but Liam raised an eyebrow at him. "Is there a problem?" After a moment the worker shook his head and let him and Alicia in.

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

Revenge in San Lorenzo (Alicia and Liam)

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

Alicia rolled her eyes at Lizzie and smiled at Liam, the somber expression gone from her face. “I am glad you’re going to be okay.” She told him truthfully before turning to the doctor.

"Thank you for your help, Doctor. How much for this appointment?" She went to her wallet, however, the man interrupted her.

"You don’t have to pay me, Miss. You two have done enough for this island already. Just make sure your husband sees a doctor again in two weeks." Alicia nodded as the doctor walked away and ignored Lizzie’s mocking chuckle.

She hated Hospitals, the stupids doctors working there always asked too many stupid questions, but she owed it to Liam. She sat on the bed and looked at him.

"So, when do you want to go home?" she asked him.

[thievingliam-blog]

Liam hadn't thought about when to go home. They had only been there a few days and it seemed like they've been there forever. "Whenever you want, Alicia," he told her as he started to eat the food that Lizzie brought him. "Do you want to stay here any longer."

[thievingliam-blog]

Coming Back (Alicia)

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

She saw the eye-roll so he nudged him with her elbow, but keptsmiling.

“Hum.. that's the part where I regret I didn't dress my bikini, right? Because I always get soaked to the bones.” she told him. It was a sunny day, and that was Florida, so even though the weather was very humid she assumed the clothes on her body would try fast enough she wouldn't get a cold.

"Sure let’s go!" she finally agreed, smirking as she started walking towards the ride.

[thievingliam-blog]

"I'm sure that even if you do get wet, you will get dry five seconds after getting off the ride." That happened to him when he was younger and he hated it because he wanted to stay wet. "Besides, all else fails we'll get you some clothes from the stores."

When she agreed, he smiled and started to search his pocket for the magic pass. There was no secret way in this ride, but Lizzie had made one of the legendary magic passes that would immediately get them into any fastpass line. It was an obvious phony, but since the workers have never seen an actual one, he used it to his advantage.

[moreausgooddeed-deactivated2015]

Revenge in San Lorenzo (Alicia and Liam)

[lizziethefinderhelps-blog]

Lizzie glanced at her clock. "She should be arriving.…” She didn’t finish the sentence because the door was opened and Alicia entered, followed by the doctor.

Alicia was still dressed like a cop, she was small for someone half Russian so finding a suit her size hadn’t been difficult, they’d even gotten her a badge of a female officer that was on baby license. It was creepy. At least now she wasn’t adopting the posture and stance of a real cop, but it was still very sinister for Lizzie.

She laughed it off, the way she always did. "Damn! I never thought I’d see the day Moreau’s child would look like a cop!” she commented.

It was only she saw Alicia’s face and the girl grabbed some clothes and excused herself to the bathroom she realized something was not right. She’d been crying and Lizzie thanked God for the fact she’d done while she wasn’t around, but still got up and followed Alicia to the bathroom after introducing the doctor to Liam.

[thievingliam-blog]

When Liam heard the door open, he looked up and smiled at the sight of Alicia. However, he could sense something wasn't entirely right. He wanted to ask what, but he figured that it wasn't really his place to do so. He kept his smile on his face until Alicia went to the bathroom to change to which his face fell instantly and the doctor came to check on him.

A couple of muffled cries and clenched fists later, the doctor had properly wrapped his ribs to set right and properly treated his ankle. His other bruises and scratches would disappear and wouldn't be a problem. It went by faster than he realized or maybe Alicia and Lizzie spent a long time in the bathroom because by the time the doctor finished, the two came out.

He put on a wiry smile. "So it's official, I'm not gonna die."

[thievingliam-blog]

Business as Usual (Blake and Liam)

[blakeraymond-grifter]

Blake raised an eyebrow at Liam’s slightly distracted tone, and glanced around them to see what was causing the thief discomfort. As far as he could see, there wasn’t anyone paying too much attention to them, nor were their any police officers that might make the thief a bit wary. “Is everything alright?” He asked quietly as he gave up trying to spot who or what the thief was distracted by.

[thievingliam-blog]

Liam's eyes kept darting to the shadow on the roof despite his mind telling him that it was probably nothing. He knew that he was over analyzing it but that didn't stop him from feeling slightly uneasy. "It's probably nothing," he told Blake with a weak grin. He kept his eyes straight and forced himself to focus on the building that may or may not be his new watch shop.

[thievingliam-blog]

Business as Usual (Blake and Liam)

[blakeraymond-grifter]

Blake glanced at Liam with a raised eyebrow for a moment before his words finally clicked. “Ah, I suppose you’re right. You’ll have to forgive me for not thinking like a thief like yourself, I’m more used to only using doors for entrances and exits.” He said slightly self-deprecatingly as the two men made their way towards the second venue. The grifter let his eyes wander along the various buildings they passed, one thing he loved about New Orleans was how diverse the shops were and how random they were. At that very moment, he was passing by a fancy looking jewelry store that was right next to a shop that appeared to be selling voodoo merchandise. Shaking his head, Blake turned his head back to the road in front of them. “Hey! Isn’t that the place right there?”

[thievingliam-blog]

From his tone, Liam thought that he might have said something wrong to Blake, but he didn't do anything about it. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but he didn't really know how. So he ignored the situation until it turned into a greater problem.

As they walked, Liam kept his eyes up the way he was trained to. People hardly ever looked up and that was where the real danger usually was. His eyes were glued on a dark shadow on a roof when Blake mentioned the next shop. His eyes jumped to the building and nodded. "I think so. It look like it is anyway."