Glimpses Into Another Time: Emerald: Pickpocketing Lesson
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AndrewJTalon
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Airship on the way to Argus
Six months after Vytal
- - -
The airship liner to Argus hummed steadily through the night sky, engines a low, constant thrum beneath the deck. Most passengers were asleep in their cabins or dozing in the lounge seats. The observation deck, however, was empty save for two figures tucked into the shadowed corner near the rear windows.
Emerald Sustrai leaned against the railing, arms crossed, a sly little smile playing on her lips as she watched Jaune fumble with the practice wallet she'd clipped to her belt.
"Again," she said, voice low and teasing. "You're telegraphing every move. Your hand's shaking like you're trying to defuse a bomb."
Jaune's ears went pink. "I'm trying. This is harder than it looks."
"That's the point." She stepped closer. Close enough that her hip brushed his. "Thieves don't get second chances. Neither do you if you want to impress me."
He swallowed, eyes flicking down to the wallet, then back up to her face. She was smirking, but there was something softer in her gaze tonight. Something almost fond.
"Okay. One more time."
He reached: Slow, careful, trying to mimic the smooth motion she'd shown him earlier. His fingers grazed the edge of the wallet… and then slipped, brushing the curve of her hip instead.
Emerald didn't flinch. Didn't pull away.
Instead, she caught his wrist gently, guiding his hand back to the wallet.
"You're not trying to grab it," she murmured, breath warm against his ear. "You're trying to caress it. Like this."
She slid his fingers along the leather-slow, deliberate-until they closed around the edge. Her other hand came up to rest on his chest, right over his heartbeat.
Jaune's pulse jumped under her palm.
"See?" she whispered. "Light touch. No tension. Just… feeling it out."
His voice came out rough. "Emerald…"
She tilted her head, lips curving. "You're still shaking."
"I'm… distracted."
"Good." She leaned in until their foreheads nearly touched. "That's part of the challenge."
Jaune's free hand rose hesitantly until it settled at her waist. He didn't pull her closer. He didn't need to. She closed the last inch herself.
Their lips met/ Spft at first, testing. Then deeper. Hungrier.
The wallet slipped from between them and hit the deck with a soft thud.
Neither noticed.
Jaune's hand slid up her back, fingers tangling in her hair. Emerald made a small, pleased sound against his mouth, pressing herself closer until there was no space left between them. The kiss turned messy, teeth and tongue and quiet gasps swallowed by the hum of the engines.
When they finally parted, both breathing hard, Emerald rested her forehead against his, eyes half-lidded and amused.
"You're still terrible at pickpocketing," she whispered.
Jaune laughed. "Yeah. But I'm getting really good at this part."
She smirked, brushing her thumb along his jaw. "Practice makes perfect."
He kissed her again.
The wallet lay forgotten on the floor.
For a time, so was their mission, the danger they were pursuing.
But for now, they had eachother. And that was enough.
Six months after Vytal
- - -
The airship liner to Argus hummed steadily through the night sky, engines a low, constant thrum beneath the deck. Most passengers were asleep in their cabins or dozing in the lounge seats. The observation deck, however, was empty save for two figures tucked into the shadowed corner near the rear windows.
Emerald Sustrai leaned against the railing, arms crossed, a sly little smile playing on her lips as she watched Jaune fumble with the practice wallet she'd clipped to her belt.
"Again," she said, voice low and teasing. "You're telegraphing every move. Your hand's shaking like you're trying to defuse a bomb."
Jaune's ears went pink. "I'm trying. This is harder than it looks."
"That's the point." She stepped closer. Close enough that her hip brushed his. "Thieves don't get second chances. Neither do you if you want to impress me."
He swallowed, eyes flicking down to the wallet, then back up to her face. She was smirking, but there was something softer in her gaze tonight. Something almost fond.
"Okay. One more time."
He reached: Slow, careful, trying to mimic the smooth motion she'd shown him earlier. His fingers grazed the edge of the wallet… and then slipped, brushing the curve of her hip instead.
Emerald didn't flinch. Didn't pull away.
Instead, she caught his wrist gently, guiding his hand back to the wallet.
"You're not trying to grab it," she murmured, breath warm against his ear. "You're trying to caress it. Like this."
She slid his fingers along the leather-slow, deliberate-until they closed around the edge. Her other hand came up to rest on his chest, right over his heartbeat.
Jaune's pulse jumped under her palm.
"See?" she whispered. "Light touch. No tension. Just… feeling it out."
His voice came out rough. "Emerald…"
She tilted her head, lips curving. "You're still shaking."
"I'm… distracted."
"Good." She leaned in until their foreheads nearly touched. "That's part of the challenge."
Jaune's free hand rose hesitantly until it settled at her waist. He didn't pull her closer. He didn't need to. She closed the last inch herself.
Their lips met/ Spft at first, testing. Then deeper. Hungrier.
The wallet slipped from between them and hit the deck with a soft thud.
Neither noticed.
Jaune's hand slid up her back, fingers tangling in her hair. Emerald made a small, pleased sound against his mouth, pressing herself closer until there was no space left between them. The kiss turned messy, teeth and tongue and quiet gasps swallowed by the hum of the engines.
When they finally parted, both breathing hard, Emerald rested her forehead against his, eyes half-lidded and amused.
"You're still terrible at pickpocketing," she whispered.
Jaune laughed. "Yeah. But I'm getting really good at this part."
She smirked, brushing her thumb along his jaw. "Practice makes perfect."
He kissed her again.
The wallet lay forgotten on the floor.
For a time, so was their mission, the danger they were pursuing.
But for now, they had eachother. And that was enough.