A Promise For Liu Fen (Chinese Gl, Yuri, lesbian, Lgbt, girlxgirl)

The girl had learned to bind her breasts and harden her voice, to live like a boy in a city that cared nothing for her. She wore a boy's robe of faded grey, over brown breeches tucked in black boots, and her hair, dark as a raven's wing, was pulled into a messy knot.

She stood by the wall at the end of a narrow alley, watching the crowded street with a thief's eye. The morning breeze carried the scent of buns, steaming and sweet, from the stall across the street. Her mouth watered and her fingers twitched for them, but she held herself back. She was no longer a petty thief.

The martial arts she had learned from her Shifu had given her the courage to take from those who had more than they needed. The big fish, the fat cats, the ones who flaunted their wealth like banners. And so, she watched and waited, and moments later she was rewarded.

Her big fish arrived in the form of a haughty noble lady. Miss Ding by name, the eldest daughter of the Marquess of Jiao. One would think that Miss Ding, having been robbed many times by the girl's nimble fingers, would have learned to hide her purse better, but she never did. The purse was, as always, dangling from her belt.

The girl spied four guards trailing Miss Ding. But they were no threat — their mistress had a passion for shopping. Every stall and shop beckoned her like a moth to a flame, and as always, she had made the guards carry her acquisitions. 

They staggered and panted under the weight of boxes and bundles, and the girl was certain that these men secretly wished for a thief to snatch their mistress's purse, if only to end her buying spree, and spare them from adding more burdens to their backs. And fortunate for them, their pleas were about to be answered.

The girl waited until Miss Ding stopped at a stall that sold animal-shaped sculptures. She feigned interest in them too, and edged closer to Miss Ding's side. With one hand, she slipped the purse from Miss Ding's belt, and with the other hand, she picked up a wooden sparrow.

"What a fine sparrow," she exclaimed, holding it to her eye.

The merchant grinned, "A lucky bird, young sir," he said, "It will bring you joy and peace."

Miss Ding turned her head and saw the sparrow in the girl's hand. She scowled and snatched it away.

"Hey! That's mine!" the girl protested, pretending to be offended.

"Yours?" Miss Ding sneered. "You haven't paid for it yet."

"I saw it first," the girl said.

"Can you even afford it?" Miss Ding asked as she looked the girl over with disdain.

"You!" the girl feigned anger.

"You! What?" Miss Ding challenged.

The girl huffed and turned to leave.

She heard Miss Ding's voice behind her: "What a shameless beggar."

The girl did not look back. She did not care. She only felt the satisfying weight in her palm.