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carissimipaixao · 10 months

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— FROM THE START

publishing date: july 13th, 2023 pairing: arsène lupin iii & reader word count: 2.6k+ note: part of the highly emotional people! second note: back in june, i did a poll asking which series or fanfic should be expended upon, and the first entry of this series was the winner! as such, here we go! also, no beta, we die like men.

From the start, the stories of police officers bringing criminals to justice, ruthless in their pursuit and passionate for change, have always been fascinating to you. As a kid, it brought you so much joy listening to your parents discuss the local cases together, turning on the television or the radio to follow up on the wild chases across the country — and the world — and dressing up as a cop for Halloween. Then, as you grew up, you started to participate in these conversations, trying to understand the criminal world, everything and anything.

Now, you get to carry your own badge — having worked day and night for the path you carved with your own blood, sweat and tears. You get to work with some of the world’s best professionals (or witness them in action), even if by occasion, and you have earned your name and title in the local law enforcement. You would like to think, of course, that your father’s reputation has done nothing to influence your own ascend within the law.

Months after becoming a detective, a letter arrives. Upon hearing the loud crash from the Chief’s office, you turn in shock — even though you have known about Chief Daiam’s tantrums and sour moods for years. When he leaves the office in rage, face completely flustered, the Chief storms towards your unit’s lieutenant. Immediately, you feel excitement rushing through your veins.

For him to reach out for Lieutenant Oscar, it can only mean one thing.

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‘You stay here,’ those words freeze you to your spot in an instance.

And, you are unable to hide your confusion. ‘Sir?’ Surely, you are either about to be given the most incredible orders in your whole career — something that would push you down a path of adventure and greatness — or about to be utterly disappointed. Your eyes fly to the building on your left.

In this very gallery, something will be stolen. There’s no may be stolen, nor futile attempt, because the thief involved is no average criminal. You had heard about him as you climbed in ranks, you had heard about his father and grandfather from your father. The Underground may be full of secrets and criminals, all buried under shadows, but you know that he is the closest to a celebrity in his own world.

You have the chance to arrest Lupin III right in front of you.

Lieutenant Oscar spares a look to the unit entering the building, like the crazed lovers they are for chasing down international and dangerous criminals, and turns back with his hand raised. ‘You are staying here with the others.’

‘Wait,’ you shake your head, ‘what about the thief? I thought I was with the unit.’

‘Change of plans,’ he shrugs. ‘Besides, you are still a rookie, aren’t you?’ Your eyebrow twitches at the poor attempt of a friendly smile on his face, ‘Why don’t you leave this one for those who are more capable?’

You have got to be kidding me, you think to yourself. If Chief Daiam is known for his humor, then Lieutenant Oscar is known for being a bully to those who have just joined law enforcement (and to those he considers a threat, your father told you one day). He is slightly older than you, but you know he has been unable to climb up in ranks — not almost as effortlessly as you have done thus far.

You wonder if he, indeed, thinks of you as a possible obstacle in his path, if he thinks of you as competition.

‘Someone should remain outside,’ he continues, ‘to keep an eye out for that thief if he manages to escape our trap.’ You glance over your shoulder, looking at the police officers that are surrounding the building, the road that has been blocked for almost one hour now and the waiting crowd of journalists. Security is tight — that’s what you think — and you hardly think one more policewoman is going to make much of a difference.

Yep, you turn back with a frown, he definitely has something against me.

You risk the urge to cross your arms over your chest, instead raising your chin in the air. ‘Lieutenant, with all due respect, I think I have earned my place within this unit. I deserve to enter the building and help arrest this criminal.’

Lieutenant Oscar snickers. Then, his expression falls. ‘You stay here,’ he repeats. ‘Got it, Detective?’ The patronizing tone unleashes feral rage within your heart, and you grind your teeth together before you comply. No matter what, he is your superior; orders are orders.

‘...Understood,’ you murmur before you turn your back to him.

You take a position near the alleyway, shoving your hands inside your pockets. Perhaps, you are being rather childish about this whole ordeal, but, still, an opportunity — a great one at that — has been taken from you. You don’t think you’ll ever let Oscar hear the end of it, now. He might have just jeopardized the biggest achievement of your whole career.

Time passes slowly, painfully so, and you can see your coworkers begin to lean against the police cars, fetching cigarettes and talking to one another. Nothing’s happening, you think. Yet, you feel like something is coming.

What is the heist, again? What is he aiming for?

Something wet falls on top of your skin, and you flinch. When it repeats, you extend your hand out — almost robotically — and sigh when you realize it has just begun to rain.

Great.

You walk deeper into the alleyway seeking shelter. What is one more cop? The thought crosses your mind as you think of your coworkers — those in front of the gallery, and those who have been so happily followed by Lieutenant Oscar. Perhaps, your presence wouldn't have made a difference inside the gallery. What would you have done? It's your first time being anywhere near this thief, and you know very well that the stories about how he easily slips through the hands of the law aren't fake.

Not like Lieutenant Oscar.

Either way, if you don't need to be inside to apprehend the criminal, then nobody needs you outside. They could try to get the thief on their own, for all you cared at this point.

‘I can't believe this,' you murmur, leaning your head against the wall. The sigh that escapes through your lips is heavy, burdened with shame and unhappiness. Maybe, I'm just not enough. Your father would have been so disappointed to see you now, you know it. ‘I'm not cut out for this.'

Wind ruffles your hair, and you close your eyes.

Yet, they snap open immediately after, as the sirens go off. You push yourself off the wall, glancing left and right as you try to catch a glimpse of action. You hear your coworkers stumble to get back in position, and you hear a distant yell — perhaps a megaphone. You can swear you hear the thief’s name, and you tremble in excitement.

But, once again, you remind yourself that you are not in the middle of the action.

You return to your shelter from the rain, instead looking at the raindrops that fall on the pounds around you. Everything is so temporal, and chances can drip through your fingers like sands — if not now, then when? The stars aren’t aligned for your success, are they?

The confusion continues within the gallery. Undoubtedly, the thief has arrived at the designated hour, as he said in the card, and he is now making his escape. You can only wonder how. He has always been quite a devious individual, full of tricks and gadgets. A mastermind, you think to yourself. I wonder if such talent and knowledge will ever be found in law enforcement?

It would definitely turn the game upside down.

A door cracks open, and you turn to your left. It is too dark to see, but you just barely notice this person is wearing the gallery’s uniform. Why are they leaving through a backdoor, while there is literally a theft happening in their shift? That question rings in your head like the obnoxious siren — which is yet to be shut down.

The person turns, immediately noticing you. ‘Good evening!’

You blink. That’s certainly very playful for someone who might just lose his job. ‘Good… evening,’ you reply, as you watch the man. Something doesn’t feel right.

The man looks up to the skies, a hand holding his hat. ‘It just had to rain, didn’t it?’ He looks back at you, ‘What is a pretty lady like you doing in the middle of the rain?’

‘Listening,’ you reply. That’s not a lie, is it? You aren’t exactly working; just observing and listening to what happens around you. Indeed, you are far too busy thinking about what could have been and your shattered dreams, as you take in the sounds and the sights around you. The siren, the rain and the blinding lights of the police cars. And, yourself — an outsider.

‘Listening,’ he repeats. The rain is slowly getting heavier, you can see it by the way his clothes get soaked, clinging to his body. The man’s smirk, however, is yet to disappear from his face.

You decide to spin the spotlight around. ‘What about you, sir?’ The almost accusatory tone slips into your voice so easily. ‘Aren’t you being robbed?’ You cross your arms over your cheeks, tilting your head to the side as you watch the employee. ‘You do know you could be suspected of collaborating with thieves, right?’

‘Oh!’ The man raises his eyebrows, feigning surprise. ‘I suppose you are right, huh?’ He chuckles. ‘You’d be the only witness, though, and perhaps it could be a secret between us. Two… simple citizens like us, after all, ought to have each other’s back. Plus, you know how the law enforcement in this country is.’

The corner of your mouth twitches, as you nod along to his conversation. ‘I am aware.’

‘Then,’ he continues, ‘let’s make a deal. You don’t say you saw me and I…?’ He pauses, looking at you up and down. You are back in the spotlight. You hate that. ‘Maybe I’ll buy you a drink next time I see you, huh? How about that? You are looking like you need one, after all.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Well, I highly doubt you decided to come here just to listen to the rain, because these sirens are so loud!’ He complains, rubbing the side of his head with a fake grimace. ‘Unless you are a journalist? Hoping to catch the thief unexpectedly for a special interview?’ His smile widens.

You snort. ‘I’m not a journalist. I’m not good enough for that.’

The employee puts his hands on his hips. Why is he still standing there? ‘I won’t believe that. Not for one bit.’ He raises his hand in the air, closing his eyes in a way that reminds you of the old Greek philosophers, ‘Never doubt your qualities.’

‘I don’t doubt my qualities.’ Your tone comes out defensive, which you immediately feel conscious about. You bite your lower lip. ‘I have just not been presented with the right opportunity. That’s all.’ That is certainly a way to explain your current situation, isn’t it?

Why are you seemingly pouring your heart out to a stranger in the middle of an alleyway, right next to a crime scene? Because you two are simple citizens, as he put it?

‘Sometimes,’ he says, ‘you have to present yourself to the right opportunities.’

‘Indeed,’ you reply slowly as you begin to look at him more closely.

He lowers his arms, looking back at the gallery behind him. Then, he turns back at you with a grin. ‘You can succeed so quickly, so easily, if you just take what you want. Imagine that.’ He takes his hat off, throwing it over his head. ‘If you want a piece of advice, put yourself out there. Do what you want. Achieve what you want to achieve, without thinking of whoever is in your way.’

You push yourself off the wall. ‘Is that your life philosophy, sir?’

‘Carpe diem, yes!’ He extends his arms out. ‘So, I ask you, what is your dream, sweetheart?’

You slowly reach behind you, towards the weapon that is concealed under your coat. For as long as you can remember, your dream has always been the same. You have always wanted to earn your badge, build your reputation as an officer and catch some of the most infamous criminals out there. Lupin III is one of them, and, much like your father, who long ago chased after Lupin II, you would die for the opportunity to put his descendant behind bars.

Perhaps, this stranger is right. If the right opportunity won’t present itself to you…

‘I came to this city with one thing in mind,’ you begin, and the man hums, tilting his head as he watches you. ‘To follow my father’s footsteps, and to put criminals behind bars.’

The man’s eyebrow twitches and raises ever so slightly. ‘Is that so, sweetheart?’

‘Don’t call me that,’ you frown. Surely, the universe has something for having men patronizing you all the time. First, my superiors. Then, this guy. ‘If you’d like, you may address me by Detective.’ You pull out your weapon, aiming at the man’s chest. ‘Lupin III.’

‘Oh, so you knew it was me?’ He says, putting a hand on top of his head and, just as before, he fakes his shock. Everything is a game for a thief like himself. ‘Whatever gave that away?’

‘Spare me the—you are coming with me,’ you try to keep your blood cold. Yet, adrenaline is rushing through your veins. You have looked forward to this moment for days, weeks, months, years. You have yearned for the opportunity to catch this thief and put him behind bars, once and for all.

Lupin’s face morphs into a mischievous smirk. ‘And, what if I refuse, Detective?’

‘You can’t refuse. There is nowhere to go.’

‘It’s the two of us here,’ he comments. ‘Plus, I’d be really offended if you didn’t do your homework on me. All these years in the field, and yet there is not a single soul that is able to arrest me. Well, at least permanently.’

‘That’s fine. The opportunity just hadn’t been presented to you until now. I’m putting you in a cell, whether you like it or not.’

The thief bats his eyelashes in your direction, ‘Oh, so bossy. I love when women tell me what to do.’ Your eye twitches. This guy…! What a pain in the ass. ‘Unfortunately,’ he sighs, ‘I have to go. But, I’ll be sure to remember this little rendezvous of ours!’

He turns on his heel and begins running.

‘Wait!’ You extend your arms firmly, pointing the end of your barrel towards his ankle or even his hough. Anything to make him fall or lose his balance, while you go after him and call for backup.

Bang!

A bullet hits your gun, although it almost hits your hand instead — too close for comfort. You flinch, dropping your weapon instinctively. You lower yourself to the floor, looking around bewildered. Where did that bullet come from?

‘Thank you, Jiji!’ The thief calls out, and you become stiff. Of course you wouldn’t be working alone.

You hear a faint scoff, followed by a mumble, and you turn to look at the rooftops. Indeed, there is a silhouette, a weapon pointed at the skies as a sign of mercy. ‘I wouldn’t move an inch, if I were you,’ the gunman speaks loud enough for you to hear over the noise. You reply by giving him the nastiest glare you can manage. Something always has to be in your way.

‘Remember today’s lesson till next time, Detective!’ Lupin stops in his tracks, looking at you as he stands by a trash can. He begins to take off the jumpsuit, revealing his trademark suit underneath.

‘Oh, I will,’ you correct him firmly. ‘I’ll get you.’

In fact, that lesson would continue to haunt you for days and days to come.

#lupin the third #lupin iii #lupin the 3rd #lupin x reader #lupin iii x reader #lupin the third x reader #arsène lupin iii #arsène lupin iii x reader #arséne lupin iii x reader #arsene lupin iii x reader #jigen daisuke #x reader #fanfic #fanfiction #reader-insert #inspector zenigata #series: highly emotional people

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