#✨️ i have so much writing i wanna do that's inspired by writing prompts ✨️

[charcoalstardust]

another piece of writing inspired by a post by @gingerly-writing! what can i say? she's got really good prompts and i'm also a sucker for detective/thief duos

i kinda want to write another part for this one just because i actually have a lot of ideas for at least a second part

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He'd been staying mostly out of sight for a while. Sure, his friends knew he was back, and the police chief did, too. The unfortunate part was that, despite his attempt at keeping a low profile, the police chief still got back on his case about the thief he should have arrested by now. He was wandering around at night with a grip on his phone just trying to find a single hint of em. There was nothing.

"Stupid idiot thief and eir flirting and stupid clever plans and—"

His phone let out a ring, ripping him from his thoughts. He held up his phone and looked at the screen. Whoever was calling, he didn't have the number in his contacts. It could've been a scam number. He only stared down for a moment before deciding to pick up. What else was there to lose?

"It's been a while, detective."

"Mace."

"Awww, you missed me didn't you, Julian?" Mace chirped, "I missed you too! We need to meet up sometime! I wanna know where you've been!"

"What? No! I need you to just—" Julian stopped and took a deep breath, "—just turn yourself in, Mace."

Static crackled through the phone alongside Mace's amused laughter. "Oh? Giving up, detective? After all these years?"

"I... Have not endured enough bullshit... To deal with your condescending remarks today."

Mace was quiet for a bit. "Hm. Not quite the expected answer. I'll take it though! Obviously, you have a reason for this approach."

"A reason? I'm tired. I need sleep. I need to relax, but the chief's up my ass about getting you behind bars. That's my reason."

"Hmph. Your chief needs to back off because that's my job."

"What, to get up my ass about—" Julian didn't finish his sentence, "—oh, fuck off with your flirting! Just– please. I know you can break yourself out later!"

"Hmmm..." The thief was hummimg as ey thought about it. Julian was sure if he had the strength the phone case would be cracking right about now. "Well, you'll need to convince me. So... What will you do? What're you going to give me?"

"Anything," the detective rasped. He wasn't thinking about his words he just wanted em to stop beating around the bush and cooperate for once.

"Aaanythiiing?"

"Anything."

"Weeellll"— There was the sound of Mace shuffling through something, —"I've been looking for a special someone to help me with a little... Heist."

Oh no.

"I need someone with good observation skills, cunning... Good looks are just a bonus, but it'd be nice to have, too."

"You—"

"Ah, ah, ah. You said you'd give anything," the thief interrupted, "so what you're giving me is your help."

Julian sighed in defeat. "I'm true to my word. When and where?"

"I can easily send all of that through a text, Julie!" Mace sounded excited. "Consider this a fun little date! Love you, buh-bye!"

"I'm not going to—" Ey hung up, and he was left just staring at his phone screen. "—... Consider it a date."

He just had to help. That's it. Just help em this once. It was probably thievery from a high security building, and the messages sent to him proved him correct. He knew that place well enough. Unfortunately.

... If Mace could text him, did that mean ey had eir own phone that he didn't even know about until now? Would it be weird to add em to his contacts? He glanced around as if there were people watching him before he quickly added em.

'Absolute Menace'

Yeah. That was good enough.