𝚃𝙾 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙱𝙸𝚃𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙴𝙽𝙳 || Armitage Hux

i. the thief

🔥
𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙀𝙁 !

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ERIS DREW BACK THE curtain and sighed. Rain. Again. Autumns on her home planet of Igradius were notoriously wet, but it seemed to her that autumn this year had come early.

"Finally! I thought I'd have to throw cold water over you."

Eris turned around to see Kerasana leaning against the doorway, looking their usual smug self.

Kerasana was Eris's foster kinsni (that's the Igradian word for sibling, or more specifically sibling without a gender). They were somewhat polar opposites- Eris being more outgoing and Kerasana being more introverted- but they would die for each other. They shared a deep emotional bond and had each other's backs no matter what.

"I don't know how you can sleep in so late," they sighed.

"I don't know how you can get up so early," Eris retorted, stretching off the last of her sleep and then heading towards the door.

"Easy. You've just never tried it."

Playfully pushing Kerasana, Eris brushed past them and heard them laugh before heading downstairs for breakfast despite it almost being midday.

Sat at the table and drinking tea was Cirabelle: a beautiful middle aged woman with jet black hair and smiling brown eyes. She was well-known on Igradius for being a talented healer and a powerful fighter. She was both feared and respected and was perhaps the kindest person that Eris knew.

Cirabelle was also Eris and Kerasana's foster mother. She'd found the latter as a baby tucked up in alleyway corner and crying, begging to be fed and to be held. She later found a five year old Eris wandering the streets wearing an old jacket and boots that were a few sizes too big. Cirabelle saw them, saw their loneliness and their need for a family, and took them in. Despite not being related by blood, Eris and Kerasana considered themselves Cirabelle's own and they deeply loved and respected their mother.

"Good morning, Eris," she greeted with a smile as Eris sat down opposite her.

"Good morning, Mama."

"Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?"

Eris shrugged. "I was thinking of going to the markets."

"To do what, exactly?" Cirabelle asked, raising a dubious eyebrow.

"Browse. And there was a scarf I saw there last week that I wanted to buy, so I'm hoping it's still there."

"Hmm. Well, make sure you're careful and please don't do anything silly."

"I won't, Mama."

Cirabelle didn't look convinced. But she got to her feet and appeared behind Eris, pressing a kiss to her head. "And take a decent coat. The rain is heavy today. I'll get you some tea to warm you up."

After tea and breakfast, Eris put on her comfiest boots and grabbed her coat, putting up the hood before stepping out into the rain.

In spite of the bad weather, the streets were busy. It was mainly people trying to escape the downpour, but Eris found herself following a small crowd towards the markets, which were open no matter the weather. It was business as usual all day every day.

The Igradian markets were the lifeblood of the planet. The largest market, naturally, was in the capital city of Igraedia (and Eris lived near the centre) and was a spectacle one might only envision in dreams. It was a palace of treasures and tat ran by merchants from all walks of life that species from across the galaxy flocked to visit.

For Eris, the markets of Igraedia were a playground, a goldmine for pickpocketing easy targets and coming away with their personal belongs to sell on for the best price. The rush that came with the experience was addictive for Eris and found herself wanting to become bolder and braver. The biggest thing she'd stolen was an old speeder from the outskirts of the market. Luckily, nobody ever found out it was her and she went on to tear it to pieces in order to sell on the parts. She made good money from it, too.

Although, the one thing that Eris wasn't so keen on about her lifestyle was the disappointment Cirabelle displayed every time Eris came home with unexplained items or extra money. But needs must, Eris always thought. Why stop stealing when she was so good at it?

It was easy for her to blend into the crowd, but not as easy for her to resist the temptation of heading straight for the stalls that sold sweet treats. Eris has such a sweet tooth, but it made for simple present buying on her birthday.

After a while of wandering, scanning the crowd like a predator hunting for the perfect prey, Eris spotted a man taking his time in browsing one of the bigger stalls. He was dressed in a black coat with the hood right over his head wearing a messenger bag and thought that there would be something interesting hidden inside it.

And best of all, his back was turned. Unsuspecting. All she had to do was stealthily approach, open the bag, and bam! steal his valuables. Easy, right?

She weaved through the crowd and tried to be as inconspicuous as possible when approaching the stall, but not before glaring at a Douwutin that had barged past her.

When behind the man, Eris took one last glance around to check if she was being watched and when she was sure that the coast was clear, she reached for the flap of the bag and began to slip her hand inside-

As quick as a flash, the man turned around and grabbed Eris by the collar of her coat, causing her to tense and sharply inhale a winded breath.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Shit.

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