"What's takin' 'em so long?" Bankjob groaned impatiently. The silence of the evening was only broken by the sound of his impatient fingers thudding against the table.
Set and ready to go, the three Beagle Boys were anxiously gathered in the kitchen with their looting bags and pistols in hand.
"Maybe they bailed on us," Bugle suggested, cleaning his gun with the corner of his shirt. He almost hoped that was the case. He didn't hate them or anything- but something just seemed off about this whole scenario and he didn't like it one bit.
"Here we are!" came the sound of Bouffant's recognizable voice.
The three Beagle Babes filed into the kitchen, each of them holding onto a bulging purse and a firearm they'd chosen from the Beagle Boys' storage room.
Bankjob looked at the purse swelling in Bouffant's arms. "What could you possibly have in there?"
"Oh, you know, gotta come prepared. Just some typical lady essentials," Bouffant said, batting her lashes. "Lipstick, eye shadow, claw hammer…"
"Well, come on, what are we waiting for?!" Babydoll yelled, banging her fists onto the table. "Let's get this show on the road!"
Bankjob swung open the door to reveal his hard work- a clear path to the car, surrounded by deep snow- and Babydoll rushed past him, leaping into the shotgun seat and kicking her legs up on the dashboard with a grin.
Right behind her, Bugle and Babyface-both looking sour that the best seat was taken- took a seat in the trunk and passenger seat respectively.
Boom-Boom and Bouffant squeezed in tight beside Babyface, and after some struggling, all the six Beagles were all packed in.
Bankjob started the car and it sputtered to life, choking on the snowy terrain and slowly rumbling down the mountain road.
"Now, once we get there, we're in for a free-for-all!" Bankjob yelled back as the car started to pick up speed. "No rules, no restrictions!"
The girls all grinned; no rules, just the way they liked it.
"And loser with the fewest goods is a Junior Woodchuck!" Babyface laughed loudly, hitching his hands eagerly over the back of Bankjob's seat.
"A what?" Boom-Boom giggled a little at the ridiculous name and watching his excitement warmly.
"You know...those dumb, goodie-goodie scouts that think they're all that 'cuz they can tie a knot..." Babyface looked back at her, a little embarrassed. He brightened. "Well, it won't be me! Just watch me get the biggest haul!"
"You're on, runt!" Bankjob struck back, and he slammed the gas even harder to rev the car into a new boost of speed. "You're in for a world of pain!"
Heads spun as they hit another sharp turn; Bankjob's words were becoming literal with his reckless driving. At last they entered the limits of the city, and the distant sound of yuletide carols sped past them, the darkness lit up in a whirl of green and red electric lights.
"Ooh!"
Boom-Boom and Bouffant looked excitedly out at the window displays as the car began to slow, beginning to weave between the curbs and corners that made up the grid of downtown Duckburg.
Babydoll paid close attention to each street, memorizing the layout for their imminent escape. One last job, and they were home free!
And after some moments of riding on, the lights dimmed, the crowds vanished, and the streets went silent.
"Here we are!" Bankjob announced suddenly, braking loudly at the corner.
The street was dark, with only the scattered streetlamps providing a dusty pale light to the avenue. A figure of a massive building stood just to the side. In the lamp's glow, the facade of an impressive, romantic-styled building loomed before them.
The Beagle Babes looked up at the emporium with wonder. It was even bigger than they'd expected.
The store certainly looked every bit as fancy as it advertised- a pristine white with black trim and window awnings, and a name in cursive that just dripped French appeal. No doubt about it, this place had Scrooge's name written all over it.
"And just wait 'til you see the inside!" Babyface grinned, looking back at the girls, amused.
"Then what're we waitin' for?!" Babydoll said eagerly, sliding her face right up to the window and hastily clicking open the door.
"You all wait for my signal!" Bankjob told her firmly, getting out of the car. "I'll go first an' check for trouble."
Bankjob looked into the front window. Lights were out, and no sign of movement. He raised the butt of his gun high, preparing to smash it clean through.
"Hold on, Bank," Bouffant interrupted. She picked another one of her pins out of her hair and walked over to the door, fiddling with the lock expertly. "This'll give us a few extra minutes." The door clicked open.
Bankjob's jaw dropped a little and he looked at her with admiration. "You're amazing," he said.
Bouffant beamed. "Well then, how about a kiss for luck?"
Before Bankjob could blink, she had her arms around his neck, pulling him in, and smooched him on the mouth. Bankjob's ears shot straight up in surprise. And then her lips left as quickly as they'd came. He felt lightheaded as she stepped back- she'd always had that effect on him. Now in spite of himself, he was wearing a dopey Baggy-esque grin.
"Oh, ugh!" Babydoll groaned. "Can the sentiments and let's get cracking!" She slid into the driver's seat as Bugle, Babyface, and Boom-Boom got out of the car, all averting their eyes a little.
"Um...keep the motor runnin'," Bankjob told her, obviously still a bit disoriented.
When Babyface and Bugle reached his side, arms prepared, they all grinned.
"Let's make this our best hit yet!"
"Yeah!"
"Let's do it!"
Whooping and hollering, the boys wasted no more time, and quickly vanished into the dark.
Boom-Boom and Bouffant, however, hesitated at the door.
"You know what to do!" Babydoll barked. "I'll stay here and handle the getaway. Don't let me down, girls!" If things went south, she wanted to be able to get outta there in a hurry.
Boom-Boom and Bouffant nodded, and with their guns to their chests, followed the Boys into the store.
It took a few seconds, but the group quickly familiarized themselves with the darkness.
The place was truly impressive, lined with glass counters chockfull of different types of jewels, gems, and sparkly things.
"A smorgasbord for a Beagle's taking!" Bouffant gasped, almost having to pause to admire the place.
"Look here!" Boom-Boom squealed, looking down at a display case filled with small, exotically cut diamonds.
"Beautiful!" Bouffant planted her hands against the glass.
"Step aside, ladies," Bankjob said, grinning at Bouffant and swaggering up. Raising his pistol, he aimed and shot precisely at the lock with a loud BANG!
The countertop popped open easily, and there they were, the treasures were within reach.
And that's when the trouble really started.
WOO-WOO-WOO screamed the alarm.
"Hey, what-?!" Babyface shouted.
Suddenly a speeding bullet went careening past his face, missing him by inches. Another shot exploded not far from Bankjob.
"This must be McDuck's new security system!" Bankjob bellowed, looking up to see an arsenal of automated guns rotating on a pivot around the ceiling. Oh, they were so screwed! Bang, bang, bang!
"Ahhh!" The Beagle Babes screamed in terror, diving down to the floor and taking cover.
Everything seemed to go in slow-motion.
"We gotta get outta here!" Bugle shouted, covering his head as his shades shattered on the hardwood floor.
Bankjob snapped his head around to look at the girls. "Go!"
The Beagle Babes, who were both closer to the door, scrambled on their hands and feet towards the door, narrowly evading the rain of bullets.
"Bankjob! Babyface! C'mon!" Bugle yelled, looking back at his brothers as he crawled toward the exit. The two were flat against the floor, hands above their heads and eyes squeezed shut, hardly able to move with the barrage of bullets concentrated around them.
And then here was a sputtering sound, and the sound of the gunshots began to slow down and die out.
"It musta run out of artillery," Bouffant panted, getting up clumsily and clutching his chest. Babyface clambered up, trembling and eyes wide.
But it was far from over: the alarm was still howling, and the sound of a police siren wasn't far behind.
Babydoll honked the horn of the car emphatically. "Girls, come on!" she shouted.
"H-Hey! Bankjob!"
Boom-Boom and Bouffant halted in their tracks when they heard Babyface cry out. The young Beagle Boy was standing over his older brother, who had fallen to his knees and was cringing in pain. He grabbed his arm and tried to pull him roughly to his feet, but Bankjob was just too heavy.
"Just go!"
"Bank?" Bouffant couldn't bring herself to move. From the way he was doubled over, it looked like he'd gotten shot in the shoulder. Bad.
Honk! Honk! Went the car again. The sirens were getting louder.
"Will you just wait a minute!?" Bugle shouted in the chaos, grabbing the open car door in fear that she would speed off.
Boom-Boom didn't waste a second. Dashing back in, she grabbed Babyface by the wrist. She wasn't going to leave him here. She couldn't.
"Boom-Boom?" Babyface looked up at her, real concern filling his eyes. A small but painful looking wound lacerated his face right under his mask. A bullet must have just grazed him.
"I've got you," she said, and then Bouffant appeared at her side, helping Bankjob up.
"You're not gonna get away that easy," she said, wrapping her arm around his waist for support. The alarm was still blaring, but none of the Beagles could really hear it any more; they were too focused. Carefully, the Beagle Babes led the damaged Boys out of the disaster zone.
Babydoll's face was twisted into a mask of rage as Boom-Boom and Bouffant helped Babyface and Bankjob into the car. Bugle was already in the passenger seat, trying to catch his breath. He spun around, reaching out to his brothers.
"No, no, no!" His voice spiked with panic.
"What did you do, Boom-Boom!" Babydoll shrieked, her hands gripping the wheel in a chokehold. "Bouffant! You didn't get away with anything?!"
"Just drive!" barked Bouffant. The police were almost on top of them now, and she was no longer in the mood to deal with her sister's bull.
Fuming, Babydoll stomped on the gas and the engine roared to life. With a scream, the car jerked forward and sped off down the cobblestone road and into the dark night.
Bankjob groaned in the backseat.
Bouffant zipped open her purse and pulled out a roll of pressure bandage, quickly getting to work on stopping the blood flow. "You're lucky it didn't hit any bone," she said, pressing down on his right shoulder. "Just a through-and-through. Ya big baby."
Bankjob forced a weak smile. "Surprised you carry somethin' like this."
"What'd I tell you? I come prepared," Bouffant laughed, her eyes soft on him.
"Um, so, is everyone okay, then?" Babyface asked, looking around with trepidation.
Boom-Boom scooted in close to him. "We're all fine, sweetie. But what about you?"
She gently touched the wound on his face and he flinched a little.
"Don't worry about me!" Babyface chuckled, trying to put on a brave face. As much as he tried to hide it, he was still freaking out over their narrow escape.
All of them were.
"But, um…" he could feel his face getting hot, his heart revving up, as she continued staring at him, a relieved smile on her face. "Thanks for comin' back for us."
Boom-Boom opened her mouth to speak, but Babydoll's harsh, raspy voice cut her off.
"Yeah, thanks Boom-Boom! Thanks for ruining our entire plan!"
"Plan?" Bugle asked, turning to her, looking like an entirely different Beagle without his shades on. "What plan?"
The car swerved dangerously as it pulled in over the snowy foothills near the cabin, and Bouffant grabbed the back of Babydoll's seat. "Just shut up, Babydoll!"
"Don't ya tell me to shut up, Bouffant! You're just as to blame as she is!" Babydoll yelled, and she turned to look at Bugle and then the Boys in the back. "You wanna know the plan? I'll tell ya! These two were workin' to steal your hearts so that we could steal your loot!"
"Wh-what?" Babyface said, feeling his mouth go dry.
Boom-Boom made an attempt to grab his attention, but it was too late.
Babydoll slammed on the brakes as they reached the cabin, and was slung forward a little. "Boy, you guys are dim! They were only nice to ya because we wanted to come on your jewelry heist! You didn't actually think we liked ya, did you?"
Bankjob's mouth fell open, and then his eyes narrowed, glaring at Bouffant. "I knew this was all too good to be true."
Babyface sat speechless for a moment.
"Babyface, I-" Boom-Boom started, but the young Beagle squirmed out of her reach, a hurt look in his eyes. He shoved open the door, and dropped out of the car with a small thump before stumbling over a chunk of snow. Swiftly, he reached the cabin door, and he took one brief glance back before crumpling up his propeller hat and dropped it to the icy ground. And it broke Boom-Boom's heart.
"I shoulda known you couldn't be trusted," Bankjob growled, and with his other arm putting pressure on his shoulder, he hopped out and trudged after his younger brother back into the house.
"No, Bank!" Bouffant scrambled after him, her face distraught as she watched the only man she'd ever loved walk away from her for the second time. The two Beagle Babes quickly stepped out of the car and followed after them, hoping that somehow, they could make things right…
Bugle sat watching Babydoll with shock on his face, shaking his head.
"That was low, man," he said, still trying to wrap his head around this whole mess. "What's wrong with you?"
"Don't lecture me," Babydoll snarled bitterly, her arms crossed and looking away angrily. "The world's cruel, everyone can only look out for themselves."
"It's already hard enough for us Beagles," Bugle said, his voice rising for the first time. "You don't have to go and make crueler!"
Babydoll was momentarily struck dumb by this new side of the jazz-loving Beagle. He was usually so calm.
"I wanted to give you a chance," Bugle continued, reaching out for the door handle to leave. "But I guess that was just wishful thinking." He stepped out of the car.
"I-I-" Babydoll spluttered. She should have been furious, hit back. But Bugle's condemnation had hurt more than she knew. Hot little pinpricks of tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
"I just didn't want to seem weak," she said quietly.
Bugle stopped in his tracks. "What?"
A fat teardrop rolled down Babydoll's cheek- something he'd never expected to see- and the Beagle Babe's voice quavered as she looked up at him. "I messed up. I let myself and my sisters get caught because of my love for Webbigail." She sniffed. "So I told myself after that…I'd toughen up. Nothin' would influence me like that no more. I wouldn't let myself come to care about anyone else."
Bugle stepped towards her and slid back into the car seat.
"But I guess that's the real place I made the mistake. Tryin' to hurt the few people who matter…" more tears were shining on her face. It hurt to admit all this, but at the same time, it felt like a heavy load taken off her shoulders. "I guess… I really did become weak."
She grasped Bugle's shirt and started to sob into it.
"Hey…there, there," Bugle said uncomfortably, patting her on the back. "But you know…" She looked up at him, her eyes shining.
"I guess it takes a little strength to finally admit that."
