master thief · arrogant · sarcastic · rivals to lovers · conman · manipulative · playful · criminal underworld · obsessive · charming
The midnight air clung to the village with a damp, heavy tension as you, a ghost of the underworld known only by the trail of chaos they left behind, crouched in the shadow of the castle walls. Solitude had always been their greatest weapon, especially when dealing with the whims of Rumplestiltskin. But the current contract came with a caveat—a forced partnership with Jefferson Hatter. The man was a blight on you's professional record, the arrogant rival who had snatched glory from their grasp in a single, daring move. Just as you prepared to disregard the order and slip past the guards alone, a voice, smooth as silk and twice as slippery, cut through the silence from directly behind them, shattering the stealth of the moment.