kaitouxjeanne:

Distance closing again, an ever tightening hold, honeyed words.

She was falling. Falling deeper into those eyes and in.. No, that sentence won’t be finished. It can’t. What was she doing? Getting herself caught? If she was, the thief was doing a mighty fine job of it. The detective was intoxicatingly close, he had a hold of her, and “darling”? Well, she won’t complain about that. No, wait, yes she would! Fervently. And loudly.

Yet somehow, the complaints seemed to get softer and someone’s heartbeats louder as the detective came even closer. Ah, the continuation of the kiss.. Again, the blonde’s eyelids drooped treacherously. Where was the usual detachment with which she conducted these “romances”?

Anyways, how much would a kiss hurt?

.. won’t be happening. A lot. Quite a lot. I am the fantastic, the marvelous, phantom thief Jeanne.It won’t do to let him steal ANYTHING from me, be it a kiss or my heart anymore time.

Once again, the determined vixen brought a finger to the ever nearing lips to halt the detective’s progress. Oh, it was almost a shame. Fortunately, Jeanne had enough denial in her to believe that. 

Eyes wide with her trademark mischief, she smiled. Let’s bring this closer. Indeed, as in mocking of his attempt to return her kiss, she leaned even further in hold, her lips brushing the finger separating them from a kiss as she spoke.

“Careful, someone might think you fancy me a little too much.”

With practiced ease, the blonde gently slid his hand from her back with her other hand. And no, she did not miss its warmth. Really. 

Moving back, she let the finger she had held to his lips to trail down his face and the fabric of his tie. As the thief did this, her eyes followed the progress of her finger. When she finally reached the end of the clothing article, Jeanne looked back at him and placed the taunting finger on her bottom lip.

“It’s been fun, love." 

Hopefully not. Yes, hopefully. No, definitely is better. Definitely never again. Yes. Did I just say “love”? It.. it was definitely just in reply to his “darling”! 

With that, she turned away and left to join a social circle with eligible young men. All the thief had to do now, certain the detective’s attention was on her, was to snare some unsuspecting young master with no honor. She’d knock him out, send him home in a taxi — the unconscious would wake up at home with a note saying she had stayed with him until a certain time but he’d not woken up (with the help of a sleeping pill) so she left. The time would cover the amount the heist needed. And with that, her alibi would be complete.

Taking a champagne from a passing waiter, she brought it up to her lips and pretended to listen to the conversation. Jeanne wouldn’t dare look back at the detective.

She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to look away this time.

Every movement, every word had been so carefully timed, so precisely executed, that Hakuba felt almost foolish as she left his side. She wasn’t a normal socialite; this was confirmed. She was a player, but not of the usual game; no, she played her part well, but she was too good at it.

Most women that he considered ‘conquests’ thought of themselves as femme fatales, despite having very little life experience beyond the marbled halls and limitless charge cards. There was a certain arrogance that they displayed that was almost charmingly naive, but Jeanne lacked this little nuance. As much as she tried to pull off the mysterious rich girl, that bit of chess playing set her apart. She was, in fact, the real deal, and very dangerous.

Which was likely why the young detective found himself standing in the moving crowd, staring after her, only just remembering to breathe. That kiss… those eyes… and those fingers trailing down his silk tie…

He managed a sigh before a hand clapped his shoulder, drawing his attention abruptly away from the stirring jealousy of seeing those others with the woman. Hakuba blinked once, then glanced at his employer, who made quick work of complimenting his style and grace, leading into the age-old question of – "Do you know who it is, yet?”

To this, Hakuba offered a slanted smile, head tilting just so. Confident, professional. He may have shown too much of himself to Jeanne in those moments of close musing, but he would not do the same with his client. 

“I have a list, sir; not to worry. You’ve stated that you have non-uniformed officers mixed in, correct? As long as we continue to monitor the entrances and exits as we have, and keep an eye out, I’m certain we’ll be able to draw the culprit out long before the painting is in jeopardy.”

The man, though he wore a smile that ached with concern, nodded with some relief. “I’ll leave it to you, then, tantei-san…”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Oh, incidentally, who was that girl you were dancing with? You two make a stunning pair.”

Hakuba quirked a brow at that, smirking. “Ah, you think so? Unfortunately, I didn’t quite catch her name…” A lie, to be certain. But he didn’t need to know that. “Quite the fascinating woman, though. I may have to ask her out at this rate – after the event, of course.”

“Of course.” The man wasn’t convinced, but he could hardly expect anything else from a teenager. “Just make sure that the painting is safe.”

“Even if I have to attach myself to it, sir.”

“Excellent.”

Once he was gone, Hakuba set about patrolling again, back to work. Mostly looking for the mysterious woman, but also building profiles on the other guests though, really, none were nearly as interesting. This was going to be a very long night.