Chapter Ten
Note: We thank everyone for being so patient! There's only one chapter left and it should be up soon! As for the other fics currently underway, they'll be up soon too!
Wincing against the bitter cold, Bankjob shoved open the door and hobbled clumsily into the house.
He crumpled against the table, body shivering as he leaned against it for support. Shit, didn't this just beat all.
"Bank, at least let me explain!" Bouffant begged, rushing up into the room after him, her face strewn with guilt. "We never-!"
"Save it! I've heard enough!" Bankjob snarled, his tone cold as ice. How many chances did she expect him to give her?
Bouffant made a little yelp in surprise and took a step back, shaken by his outrage. "Look, I know it sounded bad-!"
"Bad? You completely destroyed my trust!" Bankjob cut her off. He turned on her, taking deep shuddering breaths from the pain, his eyes intense. Bouffant made a forward motion to gently touch his wound, hoping that she could ease his pain, but he snarled and bristled at her touch.
Then he glared directly into her eyes. "I'm giving the the lot of you until sunrise to get outta here."
"What?!" Bouffant shouted, shocked.
"That's not fair! The cops will be scouring the city limits for hours!"
"Not my problem."
Bouffant huffed, unbelieving. He wasn't even giving her a chance! The stubborn, hardheaded jerk!
Boom-Boom just then stooped down at the open doorway and picked up Babyface's hat, brushing off the snow, before stepping inside, her eyes wandering around the room seeking out the beagle boy.
"Come on, Boom!" Bouffant snapped, grabbing her sister's wrist tightly. "He wants us gone, then we're goin'!"
"But-!" Boom-Boom struggled for a moment, thinking fast. "I forgot somethin'. My book, in the bedroom."
Bouffant looked annoyed, but seeing the desperate look on her sister's face, she relented. "Fine."
Bankjob just faced the wall in silent rage as the two girls beat a hasty retreat back into the bedroom, and Bouffant fired him one last scathing leer before slamming the door with a resonating bang.
"You ok, man?" Bugle's abrupt voice made him jump.
"I'm fine," Bankjob said gruffly, turning to look at his brother.
His jaw set angrily when he noticed Babydoll slinking in right behind him, her heavy makeup streaked with tears. With a gentle thud, she shut the door and cut off the frigid winter draft.
"Tell your sisters to hurry it up before I change my mind," Bankjob barked at her, practically lunging forward and making her jump. "I have it in my mind not to be so patient!"
"Hold on, BJ!" Bugle rushed forward and held his brother back, pushing him into a chair with a look of worry on his face. "Look man, you're just gonna overstrain yourself! SIT DOWN!"
"Bugle, dammit-!"
With them distracted, Babydoll took that moment to quickly slip down the hallway and into the bedroom where she could hear the faint sound of her sisters' voices.
"Look, me and Babyface will handle everything, ok?" Bugle sighed, looking down at his brother slumped over in the chair and shaking his head. "Where is Babyface, anyway?"
"How should I know?" grunted Bankjob with annoyance. "He's a full-grown Beagle. He can take care of himself." But saying these words, Bankjob felt a bit uncomfortable. He'd seen the look on his brother's face.
Bugle looked at Bankjob's injury for a moment and then gave him a stern look. "You want to hear my advice?"
"Not really." Bankjob's said bluntly.
Bugle rolled his eyes. "Look. The wound is superficial. The worst of the pain is in your head, man. And I think you know what's causin' it."
"You're a crappy-ass doctor!" Bankjob snapped.
"Just talk to her," Bugle said, crossing his arms. "It could be your last chance."
xxx
"This entire thing was a mistake! We never should have come here!" Bouffant ranted, pacing the room, her hands shaking. Her eyes were burning with the threat of tears, but she sniffed and rubbed them away. No way was she going to cry for him.
"That bastard! If he weren't bleeding like a stuck pig, I'd kick his ass-!"
She whipped around to look at Boom-Boom, who had stopped pretending to search under the beds and was now solemnly just staring at the floor.
"And you never left anything in here, did you?" Bouffant concluded with annoyance. "Fine, enough games. Let's get outta here."
"Girls, let's not be rash!" Babydoll objected, voice rough with stress and stepping in front of the door. She had to make this work. "First of all, our car's busted! Secondly, we wouldn't get more than a mile before the state troopers spotted us!"
"We'll make it work!" Bouffant retorted. "Weren't you the one begging to leave?!"
Babydoll was struck dumb by that, and she looked over to Boom-Boom, who was standing silently and clutching that dingy propeller hat like it was some kind of talisman.
"Boom?" Babydoll asked. "What about you?"
Boom-Boom's eyes snapped up to her and she was shocked by the anger she saw in there.
"Why should we listen to you? You're the reason we're in this mess."
Her sister was normally so pleasant and loving- and ditzy, yes- but always so sweet. ...It frightened her a bit.
And try as she might, for the first time in her life, Babydoll didn't have a plan.
xxx
As much as he tried to deny it, the night's events had left Bankjob scarred in more ways than one. Time would heal the hole in his shoulder. But he wasn't so sure it would work on his crushed ego, or on the sting of longing when he thought back to those good old times.
He had to give Bouffant a piece of his mind. Keeping it bottled up was driving him nuts, and with a bum arm, he couldn't work out his frustrations in his favorite way- physical training.
Bankjob stopped outside of the bedroom where Babydoll and Bouffant were talking quiety, no doubt all set and ready to go. Well, good! Good riddance!
He rapped his fist against the door. He was gonna have the last word, whether she liked it or not. Knock, knock.
On the other side of the door, the three sisters jumped in surprise at the sudden sound.
"Ahem," Bankjob cleared his throat loudly, heaving the door open before they could respond. He could see the anxiety on their faces as he walked in. He set his eyes on Bouffant. "We need to talk."
"Finally talkin' to me, huh, Bank?" Bouffant raised her eyebrows halfheartedly, not sure if she should be happy or pissed. Now seeing his face, all she felt was miserable.
Without a word, Boom-Boom slipped past Bankjob and out of the bedroom to give the two some privacy.
Bankjob's scowl didn't budge. "What you did was low. Maybe somethin' I'd expect from Babydoll- but not from you, Bouffant."
Babydoll prickled at the words as her sister lowered her eyes. "That's because it was all me!" Babydoll growled, coming to her sister's aid, better late than never. "She didn't want any part of it. And she's been trying to apologize, you numskull!"
"It's ok, Babydoll," Bouffant growled without taking her eyes off of Bankjob, "You should probably leave us alone."
Babydoll looked at Bouffant unsurely for a second, then flashed her eyes on Bankjob before stalking out of the room.
"I guess this is just par for the course with you," Bouffant said hotly. "Always jumping to conclusions, shooting your mouth off before you have answers!"
"Oh, don't give me that, not with all you're sneaking around!" Bankjob shot back.
Bouffant's eyes widened in shock, then she narrowed them. "What are you talkin' about?"
There was a silence for a few moments. And then Bankjob finally worked up the courage to bring up what had been bothering him for the past several years.
"Why'd you do it?" he asked, his eyes pleading in a very uncharacteristic manner. "Why were ya with Bouncer?"
Bouffant bit the inside of her cheek angrily. Not this again. Not this again, after all these years. Bankjob and his crazy accusations. It's why they'd broken up in the first place.
"Don't lie to me, Bouffant. Come on. You told me I was special. The two of us, we were great together. And then that one night I walk in and find ya embracin'... him." The words made him practically gag.
Bouffant sharply inhaled. This was unbelievable.
"I was with Bouncer that night just to tell him we'd stay friends," she said shortly. "And only friends...despite all the times he asked me out. I was givin' him a farewell hug...'Cause I already had someone. You." She threw him a stony look.
Bankjob said nothing and blinked, utterly confused. "Wha..."
Could it be true?
"He and I were never a thing, Bank," Bouffant explained darkly, crossing her arms again. "There. Are you satisfied?"
"I...I don't know what to say, Bouffant." Bankjob couldn't believe how stupid he felt. "I...I'm sorry. I thought that was your message that you were done with me."
It'd been so many years, filled with bitterness, never speaking. All over a misunderstanding.
Bouffant humphed. "Yeah, well, you always were a special kind of stupid."
Bankjob turned away towards the door, the guilt eating him up inside. "I truly am...sorry. I should have believed you. I let my pride take over..."
Stupid idiot! And he'd gone and thrown away the best thing in his life, not once now, but twice. And Bugle had been right- (he hated to admit it)- the pain in his shoulder was now nothing but a dull ache.
He took a deep breath. "You deserve someone better. ...I just ain't good for you, Bouffant."
Bouffant's harsh scowl faded.
"Bank, I'd never do anything to hurt you…" Bouffant said, a look of real regret on her face. "Come on, you know that."
Bankjob turned back to Bouffant, looking pained. "I wish I could take it back. You know how much you mean to me."
"And you to me, big guy," she said, smiling gently. "And I'm sorry too. All this drama...I just wasn't thinking."
"You do love your drama," Bankjob replied, his lips curling in amusement.
Bouffant stretched her arms around his shoulders and looked deep into his eyes, fluttering her eyelashes. "Y'know, you still floor me whenever you show me that smile."
Bankjob blushed, and he slid his arm around her waist. "Girl. I'm crazy for you," he said softly, leaning in closer.
Bouffant smiled teasingly and lowered her eyelids. "So aren't ya gonna kiss me?"
Bankjob didn't need to be asked twice; he pulled her forward and his lips crashed onto hers. He consumed her mouth with his kiss, deep and long, and cradled her head in his hands. Bouffant pressed tighter against him, her tongue slipping into his mouth and brushing his. With a breathy groan she hooked her fingers into his shirt.
Bouffant shuddered at the all-consuming aching desire as Bankjob pulled back and started kissing her throat, the tickling caress of his touch weakening her. Damn that Beagle- he knew her too well!
And her, her skin was so soft, the feel of her warm flesh and the scent and taste of her overwhelmed his senses. He wanted her, all of her.
They may have loved like this many times before, but the fire still burned as brightly as ever.
As the couple gave way to more aroused moans and gasps, they sank onto the bed, oblivious too the rising dawn around them.
xxx
Boom-Boom wandered aimlessly out into the hallway.
There was a haunting tension there, like the walls closing in, that she hadn't felt there before. It gave her the shivers.
All the hate brewing...it was practically tangible.
"Bouffant had the right idea," Boom-Boom murmured to herself, stepping slowly down the dark corridor. They really should have left right away, the very minute they realized this mess couldn't be fixed...
Why, why did she have to go and try to delay things?
She sighed-the answer was obvious.
She'd just so wanted to speak with him one last time, to apologize. To see him again.
She looked down at the propeller hat scrunched up in her hands and bit down on her lip.
And then suddenly she felt a faint draft of cold air ripple by her cheek.
Boom-Boom looked up at the cold touch, startled.
At the very end of the hallway she noticed a small, dark, back chamber- and she soon discovered to be, the laundry room.
The entire time she'd been here, that door had been shut tight- most likely due to the Beagle Boys' lack of care for their cleanliness of dress- but now, the door was wide open. And right past the cobwebbed washing machine, a large wooden door stood slightly ajar, whisps of frosty wind blowing in through the cracks...
Thump! Thump! Thump!
His hands gripped around Bankjob's shovel, Babyface dug into the hardpacked snow, lifting and launching one chunk after another.
He was going to clear this back porch, even if it killed him.
And it just might.
The young beagle hadn't accounted on it being so heavy- he was, after all, less than half of Bankjob's size. It was a struggle, and he could feel his hands being rubbed raw from the cold, his muscles aching.
But that's just what he wanted.
"C-come on!"
He was gonna prove to them, to himself, he wasn't some worthless kid! He'd show them, no more would he just roll over and take it when he was taunted...or hurt. Not by anyone.
Exhausted and emotionally spent, Babyface leaned against the porch railing and dropped the shovel onto the patchy wooden deck.
"Huff...huff..."
Breathing hard and feeling an icy sting in his lungs, he took a look at his handiwork. After about two hours of nonstop working, he'd done a pretty good job- maybe even as good as Bankjob could do. He knew he ought to feel proud.
...So why did he still feel so miserable? Why was he still thinking of her?!
He dug his fingers into his palm. How could he have been so stupid?
Letting his emotions, his imagination, run away with him. It'd all just been one big stunt.
He shivered as a howl of wind swept past, filling his ears, and tuning out the sound of the door opening right behind him.
"Hi..."
Babyface jumped a little, startled, and his stomach flipped when he saw Boom-Boom standing there in the doorway.
"Brrr," she forced a frail smile on her face. "It's chilly out here..."
Nervously, she held out his hat. "I brought you this...so you don't freeze or nothin'."
Babyface looked down at the ground, hoping she would just walk away. She didn't.
"Babyface…" she started, taking a deep, shaky breath, "…I...I'm so sorry."
He hardly glanced over his shoulder.
"Was this your plan all along, then?" He asked, eyes distant.
Boom-Boom's felt her heart physically break at the betrayal in his voice, and her breath caught in her throat.
"No, it's not like that, I…I didn't want to go along with it-! I really enjoyed every moment I spent here with you," Boom-Boom pleaded, "just like when we were little."
She watched Babyface reach out and take the hat from her without a word. "But…I realize now that there's more to it."
He wasn't just a cute little brother to her anymore. He was so much more than that.
But she couldn't hurt him anymore. She'd done enough damage.
"I just wanted to say goodbye."
Babyface, still refusing to meet her gaze, then reached his hand into his hat. After a second, he fished out a small shimmering bracelet: gold and embellished with pearls.
He stepped towards her and pressed it into her palm, his face taut. "I hope this makes you happy."
Boom-Boom stared at it for a moment, awestruck.
He must have snagged it in the very brief seconds before Bankjob set off the alarm- and somehow he'd held onto it the entire time, taking great care not to lose it.
With nothing left to say, Babyface strode past her and reached out for the doorknob.
"No…it's you..." Boom-Boom spoke.
Her voice was low, but he heard her words.
He hesitated, and then hesitantly looked over his shoulder.
Clenching the gift tight in her hand, she repeated the words again, louder this time. "Babyface... You're the one that makes me happy."
The words out of her mouth hit him like a freight train.
Boom-Boom reached out her hand and laced her fingers between his. Red from frostbite, she gently tried to rub some warmth into his palms.
He was so precious to her.
"Please don't go," she whispered. "Everyone always leaves me. Not you, too."
She fixed her gaze on his, and the tenderness he was saw in her eyes made his heart start to pound.
His hand in hers, so close, he couldn't hide his knees getting weak, his words just fumbling out.
"Boom-" he started.
Then with a swift movement, Boom-Boom pulled Babyface into a tight embrace. The small beagle gave a little gasp as he stiffened.
Held close to her chest, he could feel the tremble in her breaths, the rhythm of her heartbeat matching with his own.
It was too much. He couldn't hold onto his anger any longer...
She was so warm...it felt so good, so safe, to be here in her arms.
"I've been a real brat, haven't I?" he mumbled, his voice a little shaky.
Her hand stroked his cheek, carefully avoiding his wound. "You're anything but."
She leaned down to him, and gently brushed her lips across his forehead.
The Beagle Boy perked instantly, feeling his cheeks flare at the unexpected feel of her warm lips, a tingling sensation lingering on his skin.
A feverish heat swirled in his stomach and shook his body to his core, turning his bones to jelly, and Babyface raised his head to look up at her, bewildered with eyes wide.
So close, he could see her flushed cheeks, and the shining tears that clung to her closed lashes; tears he'd forced himself not to cry. He was filled with her scent, an addicting fragrance like vanilla and lilies. Slowly, her eyes lifted open.
Boom-Boom brought her finger down beneath his chin and then cupped it in her hand, her eyes lidded. Slowly, she brought her face down to meet his, and puffs of cold winter air danced in the space between them as their breathing quickened.
"Ohh-" Babyface breathed quietly.
Their lips met, first closed and pressed like velvet, and then she parted her mouth to envelop him with the sweetest, softest kisses.
After a second, Babyface's eyes drifted closed, melting into her, and he began to reciprocate, at first slowly and timidly, but quickly becoming eager and passionate.
She leaned her soft body against his, and he automatically brought his arms tight around Boom-Boom's waist, his heart and head stoking a fire so hot he could hardly feel the cold anymore.
He kissed her faster and deeper, each more desperate, and she let out a light sigh against his mouth, pulling him against her.
"Boom-Boom..." Babyface spoke heavily after some moments, coming up to breathe. The pair's chests were rising and falling briskly, bodies still stirring with an intoxicating need.
He squeezed the blonde Beagle tightly in his arms, rising to his tiptoes so their noses could touch. "I think...I love you."
She caressed him gently on the cheek and she smiled. "I love you, too, Babyface."
He looked up at her, eyes widening in surprise at the direct words he'd never expected to hear.
"You love me?" he echoed, struck dumb by the words. He just couldn't believe it. Then he broke into a huge grin. "She loves me! She loves me!"
Boom-Boom giggled, eyes twinkling, and she began to kiss him all over.
Tingling from the barrage of affection, Babyface's propeller began to spin rapidly in excitement, every inch of him aquiver.
And as the morning finally broke, it was safe to say all thoughts of leaving were forgotten that day.