Requested by XxZombie4ChocolatexX

Dexter Wolfe POV, 1997

I edged around the side of the dark building, my instincts screaming at me to run. There was something wrong in the air, like the scent of ash before the visible fire. It made me anxious, which was dangerous and risky.

Thief's always had to be on their game.

I frowned at my childish emotions, chiding how they were slowing me down. I'd been in this city over dozens of times to steal, it was rich with famous banks and penthouses. Nothing had ever gotten in my way before, in fact, my very first heist I had pulled here is what had earned me my spot at the faculty table of VILE.

A beeping from my watch startled me back into reality, and I frowned down at Gunnar. His pale, sickly complexion always threw me off, and I winced at the grating in his deep voice.

"When can we expect you home, Wolf?" He raised an arched brow and smiled wickedly. "Your classes are growing impatient."

"I'm well aware of that, Maelstrom. I'm about to strike, I'll contact once I've finished my mission." I hung up with a cocky smile tugging at my mouth, laughing quietly as I remembered his annoyed expression. I wasn't scared of being discarded or kicked from faculty, so I wasn't ever very respectful. I was valuable to them, having proven myself to be cunning and tactical.

A master thief.

The title sent shivers down my spine as I scaled the penthouse, using the lips of windows and cracks in the brick to climb. Me earlier feeling of doubt was slowly ebbing, and I shoved it away completely. I didn't have time to worry, I needed to focus.

I reached the roof without breaking a sweat a few minutes later and quickly stood, brushing myself off. The party had already started, and I straightened my tie before finding a mirror to fix my rustic brown hair. Making sure it was swooping in a properly charming manner, I smiled and clicked my tongue before giving myself finger guns.

It was show time.

A few hours later, I was more than ready to go. Purses had been pilfered, jewels snatched, and I was preparing myself to say goodbye to a few acquaintances before disappearing into the night. A man stopped me, however. I had met him and pretended to be a successful business owner, and he'd taken a liking to my wit.

"Dex," he said, his heavy French accent thick and precise. "Before you head out, I'd like you to meet my son." A little boy who couldn't have been older than seven stepped forward and grabbed his fathers hand nervously. "This is Chase."

"Bonjour," Chase mumbled, then his chin quivered. "Hello."

I smiled and knelt to his level. "Are you learning English, Chase?"

He nodded, a bit confused, but his fathers deep laugh seemed to relax him a bit.

"Chase wants to work for Interpol, don't you, Son?" The man, who I had learned was named William Devineaux, rubbed a large hand over the boy's mass of brown hair.

Chase just nodded again.

"Well, it was nice to meet you, Chase. And you, sir." I shook William's hand and backed away through the crowd, impatient to leave. I had another job tonight.

"Ow!" A feminine voice, tinted lightly with a Hispanic accent, suddenly yelped in my ear, and I turned.

My heart stuttered.

A young woman -about 24 or 26, I would guess- with long auburn hair and a dusting of freckles glared at me, rubbing her foot. "You stepped on me," she huffed. The sleeves of her deep red dress glittered with black diamonds, but they aren't what captivated me.

Her eyes were a rich blue, like nothing I'd ever seen before.

It got hard to breath.

She folded her arms at me, frowning slightly. I had the sudden urge to make her smile, and I bowed. "My apologies, Miss..."

"It's Cruz. Vera Cruz."

"Well, Miss Vera Cruz, might I have this dance?" I held my hand out to her, tilting my eyebrows in hopes that she'd know I really was sorry.

She sighed, rolling those magnificent eyes of her's, but I still caught a slight blush on her tanned cheeks. "Alright. But just once. I'm busy."

"Ah, as am I, Madam, but I say we deserve to enjoy ourselves, don't you think?" I said flirtatiously, earning myself a dazzling smile.

"Yes, I suppose we do."

We swayed to the music, talking lightly over the buzz of other conversations. At one point I caught her slipping a wallet from a man's pocket, and I raised an eyebrow at her.

She shrugged. "I happen to know that he is the leader of a very notorious gang in this city, and his money will be going to charity."

I didn't really care that she was stealing -for obvious reasons- and I was more impressed with her skill.

"You know," I murmured, leaning in closer to brush my mouth against her ear. "I wasn't questioning your good will, Vera."

She blushed again, and the song ended. Giving me another smile, Vera curtsied as I bowed, and she started to leave. "Thank you, for the dance."

"I- wait!" I found myself reaching to stop her. "I need to see you again."

Her eyes widened, and she giggled. "I think you can figure it out, Dexter Wolfe."

And then she was gone, hidden by the masses of people around me. I sighed, then retrieved my stash, heart buzzing. As I leapt off of the building and opened my glider, I had to force down a smile.

It wasn't until I was a few miles away that I realized I didn't remember giving her my name.

Holy crap I loved this. I haven't found ANY Dexter x Vera content, so I was excited to write this.