𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐃𝐨𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫: 𝐴 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝐷𝑎𝑤𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑛𝑒-𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑡

𝙴𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚊𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚑 𝙳𝚊𝚢 𝙰𝚋𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚝
"𝐸𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑎" | ²⁶ | 𝒞𝒶𝓃𝒸ℯ𝓇

"𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮?"

𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄: ᴘʟᴀᴛᴏɴɪᴄ ᴘᴀʀᴛɴᴇʀꜱ ɪɴ ᴄʀɪᴍᴇ | ᴄʜɪʟᴅʜᴏᴏᴅ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ | ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜱɪʙʟɪɴɢꜱ

━✦❘༻༺❘✦━

The streets of Port Victory buzzed with noise—hammering, shouting, and the creak of wagons rolling through the muck. Amidst the chaos, Eliza moved silently, her leather boots quiet on the cobblestones, her faded cloak pulled tight against the salty wind.

Survival had sharpened her over the years since London, leaving her lean and quick-witted, though she still carried the ghost of her younger self—the girl who once outran her fate. "Can't believe I'm doing this again," she muttered to herself as she navigated through the crowded market square, searching for the one person she was certain she'd find here: Jack Dawkins.

She grinned at the thought. She hadn't seen him in years, but if Fagin's word was true, Jack was alive and well. The only question was whether he'd even remember her.

Of course, he would. Jack was many things—charming, reckless, infuriating—but forgetful wasn't one of them.

"Oi, watch it!" a burly dockworker barked as Eliza brushed past.

"Maybe if you moved faster than a dying mule, I wouldn't have to," she retorted, not breaking stride.

Her grin widened. Some habits died hard.

━✦❘༻༺❘✦━

The reunion was quicker than Eliza expected. The scrap of parchment Fagin had handed her was worn and smudged, the scrawled words barely legible: Port Victory market square, edge of the lights. That was all. No time, no further instructions—just enough to set her curiosity aflame.

As she approached the square, the port's sights and smells surrounded her: fried fish, ale, and the voices of traders and dockworkers. Near a stall of mismatched trinkets, she spotted him—a lean figure against a post, cocky as ever, his hair wild and a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Eliza," Jack called as he straightened. The recognition in his eyes was slow but inevitable.

"Elizabeth Day Abbott," he said, his grin widening. "Well, I'll be damned. Thought you'd have outgrown this mess by now."

"And I thought you'd have gotten yourself killed by now," she retorted, slightly cringing at the sound of her first name. "Guess we're both full of surprises."

Jack laughed, the sound carrying above the din of the market. Playfully, he patted her cheek—a gesture that bordered on affection and teasing.

"Still sharp-tongued, I see. So, what brings you to Port Victory? Couldn't resist the sunburn and lawlessness?"

"I hear you need an extra pair of hands," Eliza replied, crossing her arms. "Figured I'd check if you've gotten any smarter since London."

"Smarter? No. But I've improved at improvising. And it's nice to see your humor hasn't rusted in the sun."

"Port Victory suits you," she teased, "the dirt matches your charm."

"You've still got that knack for cutting me down to size, haven't you?"

"Always," she said with a shrug. "Now, what's this I hear about gold and glory? Or are you just spinning tales?"

Jack's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Oh, there's gold—and maybe a little glory, if we don't screw it up. Stick around and you'll see for yourself."

Eliza raised an eyebrow. "Lead the way, Dawkins. Just don't forget—you owe me for this."

"I'd say I owe you a drink, but first, let's not end the night hanging from a noose."

Eliza sighed. "Your plans always sound so reassuring."

━✦❘༻༺❘✦━

Later, in a dimly lit room above a run-down inn, they spread a map on the table. Fagin hovered in the corner, his sharp eyes glinting in the lantern light.

"So, what's the grand scheme?" Eliza asked, tracing a finger over the map.

Jack tapped a marked route with his finger. "A shipment of gold. It's moving from the governor's vault to the docks tomorrow night. A handful of guards—nothing we can't handle."

"And by 'we,' you mean me doing all the work while you charm your way out of trouble," Eliza said dryly.

Jack smirked, leaning back in his chair. "You know me too well."

"Unfortunately."

Fagin chuckled, his voice low. "Told you she'd be useful, Jack. She's quick, like old times."

Eliza couldn't help a slight smile. "Only if 'old times' don't end in getting caught."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Always the pessimist."

Eliza smirked. "Realistic. Someone has to keep your feet on the ground."

Fagin leaned in, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. "She's right. The governor's men don't take kindly to thieves. You'll need to be smarter than usual."

Jack feigned offense. "I'm always smart."

Eliza snorted. "Lucky, maybe. There's a difference."

Jack's grin returned. "Luck's just another word for skill, love. And I've got plenty of both."

Eliza rolled her eyes but couldn't help her amusement. "So, what's the plan? Details, Jack."

Jack's tone sobered as he traced the marked route. "We hit them here, just before they reach the docks. The guards will be spread thin. Fagin creates a distraction, and you and I do the rest."

"And by 'distraction,' you mean?" Eliza asked, glancing at Fagin.

Fagin's grin was unsettling. "Nothing too dramatic. Just enough to make the governor's men think their shipment's already under attack."

"Easy, right?" Jack said, leaning back.

Eliza stared at the map. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one picking locks under fire."

Jack winked. "That's why I keep you around."

She sighed. "Just don't forget who's bailing you out when this goes sideways."

Fagin's laugh echoed. "And that, my dear Eliza, is why you're the sharpest. Let's not write our own eulogies."

They bent over the map, finalizing the plan, the night growing heavier with the promise of danger and excitement.

━✦❘༻༺❘✦━

The heist should've been simple.

Eliza crouched in the shadows near the docks, the cold metal of a crowbar in her hands. The salt-laden wind stung her skin as the guards patrolled nearby. Jack had promised a distraction with dynamite, but the guards weren't budging.

"Damn it," she muttered, frustrated.

"Eliza!" Jack hissed from a nearby alley. She moved quickly, slipping into the shadows beside him.

"What happened to your distraction?" she demanded.

"Bit of a miscalculation," Jack admitted.

"Miscalculation?!" she echoed. "They're already loading the gold onto the ship."

"Change of plan," he said. "We split up. I'll handle the guards; you grab the gold."

"Oh, brilliant. Let me just cart a crate of gold across a ship full of armed men," she snapped.

Jack grinned. "That's the spirit!"

━✦❘༻༺❘✦━

The hold of the ship was dim, the air thick with the pungent scent of salt and rot. Shadows danced across the walls as the lantern swayed with the gentle rocking of the vessel.

Eliza moved carefully, her steps light and deliberate, her ears straining for the sound of approaching guards. Every creak of the wooden boards beneath her felt deafening in the tense silence.

Her heart pounded as she approached the crate of gold, the weight of her fears pressing down on her like the oppressive air in the hold.

Focus, she told herself, gripping the crowbar tightly. Don't think about the water. Don't think about falling.

The crate was easy to spot, its contents barely concealed beneath a flimsy tarp. But as she examined it, a string of curses spilled from her lips.

It was far too heavy to move alone.

"Eliza!"

She spun around, crowbar raised, only to see Jack climbing down into the hold. His coat was torn, and a dark stain spread across his sleeve.

"What the hell happened to you?" she whispered harshly, lowering her weapon.

"Ran into a bit of trouble," he said with a grimace, rolling his shoulder. "Think you can manage?"

"Do you have to ask?"

Together, they worked to haul the crate up the gangplank. Jack's injured arm slowed them down, but they moved with the desperation of cornered prey. Behind them, the shouts of pursuit grew louder, echoing through the still night air.

"Go!" Jack barked, shoving her forward as the guards closed in.

━✦❘༻༺❘✦━

They didn't stop running until they reached the hideout—a cramped room above a shuttered cobbler's shop. The peeling wallpaper and creaking floorboards gave it a forlorn charm, but it was secure, and that was all that mattered.

Collapsing onto the floor, they sat in a breathless heap, their laughter breaking the tension.

"What's so funny?" Jack asked though a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Eliza wiped at her forehead, smearing dirt across her skin. "Just... all of it. This feels like old times. Only now, we're older and stupider."

"Speak for yourself," Jack retorted, though his laugh betrayed him.

The crate of gold sat between them, a tangible reminder of their success. Eliza nudged it with her boot. "All this trouble for a box of shiny metal. Hope it's worth it."

Jack smirked, leaning back against the wall. "It always is."

━✦❘༻༺❘✦━

As the first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, they sat on the rooftop of their hideout. The city stretched out below them, its familiar chaos muted in the early morning stillness.

Jack handed her a bottle of stolen whiskey, the glass cool against her palm.

"You ever think about going back?" he asked suddenly, his voice softer than usual.

"To London?" Eliza took a swig of the whiskey, savoring the burn. "No. There's nothing for me there." She paused, glancing at him. "What about you?"

Jack hesitated, the lightness in his expression dimming. "Sometimes. But then I remember... the past doesn't suit me. I'm more of a 'live in the moment' kind of bloke."

Eliza smirked. "That's one way of putting it."

Jack turned to her, his gaze uncharacteristically serious. "Thanks for having my back tonight."

"Always," she replied simply.

The unspoken weight of their words hung between them as the city slowly stirred to life. Together, they watched the sunrise, their shared silence speaking louder than any words could.

━✦❘༻𝓔𝓝𝓓༺❘✦━

A/N: A one-shot requested by Isabellethebookwormw <33

This is actually so nerve-wracking but I had to start this book and I couldn't let Issy down with her application for Jack T-T (I'm very sorry it got delayed for a month ml)

I do hope you like it !! And that it's up to your expectations hajkhdja lemme know if I have something else to improve (dialogues, traits, plot, etc.) so next time, when I get to write them again, I can improve more ^^ ORRR lemme know if u want more of them, same plot, and I can continue them until three chapters, you're free to tell me hihihi

Writing this was so funnnn (though if I'm gonna be honest, I had a bit of guide with the structure and grammar from AI so that it felt like it was set in the Victorian Era) but other than that, I love writing Eliza !

I really do hope you liked it Issy !! Thank you for this application <33