"So, this thieves guild. Why? To be a hero?" asked Nathaniel, placing a box on top of another in the storage room. He adjusted his gloves as they slightly slipped. 

The tall woman looked over to him. Her bouncy curls hugging her shoulder and face. "Well..." she started. "To take care of my family." She said. Her back turned away from him. Alice looked back. "At least that's how it started." She took a seat on the wooden crate. Drumming the rims and giving a soft tsk. "Other people slowly started to come to me for resources and slowly but surely we got to this point." Alice looked up to the caverns ceiling. She sighed. "Sometimes I wish I didn't have to do this."

Nathaniel hummed in response. "What makes you say you don't have a choice?" He placed the last box down. Turning his head to her. "Your choice to give to those in need is, humble." He approached her slowly. "You can abandon this entire thing, have someone else take over. You'll be free." He gently grabbed her hand. Her soft fingertips hesitating to touch him. "You are a wonderful person Alice. Don't let your actions determine your future." He knelt down. "So don't go around giving yourself restrictions." He stood. Still catching her eyes. Her brown soft eyes meeting his. Her thoughts wondered.

Alice quickly took her hand back. Feeling rather awkward. She gave a small chuckle. "Goodness." she mumbled quietly to herself. "Well you're quite a flatterer." she said mockingly. She heaved herself off the wood boxes. "You talk to your wife with that mouth. She must love that." Nathaniel winced a bit.

My wife.

He smiled softy. He laughed lightly. "Ah- well she is lucky to have me." he sighed. Alice leaned back.

"She know you do this? You said you were a doctor, no?" She asked. Crossing her arms and legs she tilted her head. Nathaniel nodded. 

"My wife got sick, that's why I've decided to be a doctor. Many are sick and frail in this world. Why not be that light." he added. Alice hummed.

"But, why? You're clearly well fed and taken care of. What, you want to be nice and just give?"

Nathaniel shrugged. "Something like that. I have no rush in life. I am not sure what I am looking for here. But it feels right, like a calling." he insisted. Some truth to those words. They sat in silence. He wasn't sure what she was thinking. He could feel his power weaken. She's content. No good for him. He needed to refuel and soon. He thought to himself. How can he shake her up, any sort of negative feeling. He hummed. Her family. 

"First thing you mentioned was your family...are they, you know, hurt? Captured?" He asked prying. He was desperate. 

Alice blinked. She laughed. "Oh you want to get personal?" she said happily. Nathaniel laughed too. No, no! This is not- "Only if I get to ask one too. The last one I mentioned does not count." Nathaniel frowned slightly. He nodded. 

"My family?" she trailed off. "My father is retired. He is a man from the previous king. Worked and worked. Only to be left bedridden. He can't move, I gave everything up." she twiddled with her fingers. "My mom left." She looked down at her fingers. "I started working to support my family. Then stealing. And now.." She scoffed. "I'm at the age of 27 and have the biggest rebellion to have bestowed this kingdom. I make enough money from stealing, donations, business etc." She smiled and hugged her arms. "My family doesn't need to work. They can have a good education. For themselves." She shrugged. "They are the most important thing to me."

"If anything were to happen to them..." started Nathaniel. Interjecting rudely. 

"Don't even start with that- no point in thinking what would happen without me." She said sadly. Smiling nervously, giving a small laugh. 

Nathaniel trailed his eyes down, almost spacing out. "They wouldn't be able to survive without you. Everything you know would be gone. Almost like- a blip in your existence." He looked over to her. His eyes hazy. "They would die if you left this business." Alice simply stared at him. Her face in shock. Nathaniel seemingly snapped out of it. Alice had started to feel guilty. 

"Well.." she mumbled. Her mind raced. Possible scenarios of her family. What could happen to them. Her siblings. Her father. She felt the anxiety start to prick away at her. "I-I'm still here." she reassured herself. "As long as I am, I'll be able to be their stepping stone." she urged. Nathaniel nodded.

"I apologize. I shouldn't have pried the way I did." Alice only blew a raspberry and waved her hand. "Really, I insist. I deeply apologize. I was being insensitive."

Alice stood up and approached him. "Well, how about you make it up to me." She stated softly. Patting his chest, removing some dust. "So." She meet into his blue eye. "Tell me about youuuuuu..." she said cheerfully. "Wait! Don't answer that!" She quickly retracted.

"No! No! You already gave your request." He mocked.

"Please! How about- your family! Yeah tell me about yours!" she quickly snapped. Almost immediately his aura felt cold. Silent. Alice sensed the uneasy shift in the atmosphere. "I-I mean if that is really something you do-"

"It's fine." he stated coldly, no emotion behind it. He decided to not disclose anything to her. At least what isn't important. He picked up another box. "I had a wife. Beautiful women. She is everything and anything to me. I had 4 kids. All gone now. So I spend my time in my lonesomeness and keeping myself occupied." he kept it short. Nothing more, nothing less. Alice hummed. 

"Tell me more about her." she asked.

He hesitated. He didn't think it was necessary.

"You seemed happy talking about her...I'm sure she is wonderful." 

More than you could ever know. He placed the box back down. Finally, feeling slightly refreshed from their conversation. He just wanted to move on. He ignored responding. Before he could turn around, he felt some arms wrap around him. The embrace was gentle. The warmth encloses him as a tomb. "I'm sorry for asking. I'm sorry to have upset you." she whispered.

He flinched. "May you please release me?" he asked. Feeling slightly embarrassed. "Thank you for your concern, but I am more than alright." Alice only looked at him. She felt pity, sadness, and guilt. "I can reassure you. I am in a much better place now." Alice fidgeted with her fingers again. Yes, much better.

I'm really loving this scheduled post thing. I feel like it's really helped me out. I also do feel more motivated to continue this too. Attempting to stay in the groove I suppose. Sorry it's so short!

~TheOreoCookie

Word Count- 1136