Chapter Fifteen: Thief

Heart:
Upon running into my older brother he managed to bring me back to our house without too much convincing. Fortunately no one else was home. Even our mother was out he told me.
"Sis, what's going on?" Wildwing asked me after I'd requested the blinds be shut.
"I don't know anymore..." I heard myself say as I looked at the floor.
"Where have you been? What are you wearing? What were you running from?"
My head swam as it was filled with these questions. I didn't know where to start. I didn't know what I could even tell him.
Wildwing then looked at me, letting out a heavy sigh as he sat beside me on my old bed.
"After Dive saw ya mom told us a bit about where you came from. She told us you were hiding from them," Wildwing said, "But I wish you would tell at least us where you've been."
"I can't..." I said quietly, "You won't understand..."
"Try me," Wildwing insisted as he pulled me into a half hug.
"He saved my life...again..." I started quietly.
"Who did? The guy Dive mentioned?"
I nodded my head.
"Who is he?"
"You've heard of him recently," I mentioned shakily, "He's been on the news..."
I looked to see Wildwing glancing at me with a bewildered expression, then a sudden realization came over him.
"You've been with Duke this whole time?!" He exclaimed.
I nodded my head.
"The night I ran away Duke saved me from being dragged back to those labs," I explained, "He took me where I would be safe and could hide from them."
"But you were with a gang of thieves!" He told me as though I weren't aware.
"Wildwing...if I had stayed here they would have ripped our family apart. If I had stayed in the public view they would have found me. If I was going to be on the run, I figured I might at least enjoy my life a little, have an adventure..."
Wildwing gave a troubled expression. I waited for him to scold me, to not understand. Yet then he hugged me, "You know, when you put it that way, I think I get it."
"You do?" I asked surprised by this.
"I mean, I wish you could have stayed with us. In some ways I think we could have figured out a way to protect you little sister. When you left we were so worried, we just wanted our sister to come home," he told me.
"Wildwing, knowing him now...I can't imagine not meeting him. As much as I needed him that night, the night I ran, I think he needed me too..." I realized.
I then pulled the glove off of my hand that I had still been wearing. Upon seeing the ring on my finger I felt tears fall gently over my fingers.
"You're in love with him..." Wildwing realized when he noticed the ring.
"I am..." I confirmed before covering my eyes with my hands as I cried into them, "And I don't know how to help him...He's in this mess because of me..."
"What do you mean? Didn't he got caught trying to steal a diamond?" Wildwing questioned carefully.
"We were set up! They were looking for me! He was trying to buy us time to get out, but he...he...!"
Wildwing pulled me into a full now as I cried.
"They're taking him away tomorrow..." Then I realized, "No..."
I got to my feet now, pulling away from my brother. Something in me clicked as I looked around the room, noticing missing items that Duke had brought to me. It was another reminder of just how much he had risked just to see me smile. Wildwing then noticed as well, "I had wondered where they went."
"He came here with me once, a week after I ran away. I wanted to make sure you were all together still. While we were here Duke snuck in here and took some things to surprise me...It was so I would feel more at home he said..." I explained softly.
Wildwing looked at me as though recalling something, "Dive and I heard you. We thought we were just hearing things, but we were certain we heard your voice that night. The night we left we heard you too, you told us to stop looking because you were safe. I didn't want to go home without you, but I felt somehow that it was the right thing to do at the time."
"That, and my other abilities are why they're looking for me. I don't know why, but they're really interested in learning about them," I shrugged.
Then I felt something shift and set within me. My hands balled into fists. The more I thought of Duke and what was happening the more I knew I had to do something.
"What good are these gifts if I don't use them?" I asked with my voice taking on a determined tone.
I looked to my brother as I declared firmly, "I'm going to steal him back!"
"Sis are you insane? They're looking for you as it is?" Wildwing exclaimed.
"I will not let them take him from me! They took me away from my family when I was a hatchling, they made me runaway from this family too! But they will not rip him away from me too!" I assured as energy sparked around me, "I will not run and hide while he risks everything for me!"
"Sis, is he really worth risking your own freedom for?" Wildwing questioned, "Is he worth possibly being dragged back to those labs for?"
"He is," I confirmed with a smile breaking through as I thought of Duke.
Then to my surprise, Wildwing smiled proudly, "You've grown up so much and I had to miss it."
He then got up and gave me another hug, "Normally I would say do things by the book, but there is no book to this is there? If this is what you have to do, then I won't stop you. Just promise you'll be careful."
"Thank you Wildwing," I said as I hugged him back.
"I've missed you and Dive so much," I told him, "Canard too."
"We've missed you too little sister," he assured me.
Not long after Nosedive stepped through the door to find me preparing for the night's adventure. Wildwing and I explained what was going on. My twin gave me some clothes to wear while I cleaned my stealth suit. Then shortly after I was ready to head out just as the sunset was transitioning into dusk.
"Good luck sis," Nosedive said as I went to leave.
"Thanks Dive," I replied while taking a deep breath.
"You know we love you," Wildwing reminded me again.
"I love you both very much," I said fighting back tears as I hugged them both once more.
With that I left my childhood home behind me for the last time. In my head I sent out a message to our friends in the hideout as I headed out towards the city, "I'm going to steal him back! Everyone be careful, as they might come looking for us."
I hoped they heard me.

Duke:
I had been questioned several times since the night before. More bruises were making themselves known from being shoved and grabbed at. None the less I had kept my beak shut.
Once more they came looking for me. Yet this time they kept me in my cell.
"You're quite stubborn L'Orange," the woman told me.
"You're the one that keeps askin' the same question ta get the same answer," I retorted in annoyance, "Do I really need ta say it again?"
"We have proof she was with you from another source Duke, so you can cut the comedy with me," she told me sharply.
I laughed, "Ya mean from Falcone? My rival? Ya do realize he could make up what ya want ta know ta get away? He's not really trust worthy."
"Nor are you," she said coldly.
"I am more than ya know," I assured.
"Where is the girl?" She asked leaning close to me with her arms crossed.
"I don't know, because I don't know who you're talkin' about. All ya keep askin' is where she is," I answered.
"Why are you protecting her? You could get off scott free if you give her up," she told me.
"I'm not protectin' anyone," I said with a casual shrug, "Ya caught me off guard last night, that's all. Even I can have an off night."
"I'll still pay you for the job you accepted," she taunted suddenly, making sure only I heard her.
My left eye widened, but then narrowed into a glare, "Ya set me up!"
"I was told you would bring what I was really after without needing to be asked, so I took a shot," she said amused.
"But your source was wrong. I work alone," I told her calmly, "I don't have whoever you're lookin' for."
"Her hair was on your suit you're wearing still," she added confidentally.
"Lady, I've been known ta charm an' break many hearts. I can't keep track of every girl that tries ta get my attention," I laughed confidentally, "Besides, that still doesn't mean I know who you're talkin' about."
"Your ticket to prison far away from her and this city is just about to be punched Duke, are you sure you don't know anything about her?" She asked again.
"I don't!" I growled, "I don't know who you're talkin' about! Why are you so insistant ta learn about someone I know nothin' about?!"
I could see frustration in her eyes, but her arms remained folded over her chest as she glared at me.
"We'll still find her Duke. She won't stay hidden forever. In fact it'll be easier without you there to protect her won't it?" She mentioned with a smirk crossing her beak, "Last chance L'Orange."
She leaned in close to sneer at me as she asked in a venomous tone, "Where is she?"
My expression didn't shift as I answered, "I don't know who you're talkin' about."
She then smirked like a cat that had just caught a mouse, "Enjoy a life in prison Duke. I hope she's worth it."
In my head I thought, "More than ya know." However I didn't say a word aloud in response.
With that she stormed out, her heels quickly tapping against the hard floor of the prison hall. The cell door was slammed and locked behind her to leave me alone again. Outside another cell window I heard the screeching tires of a large vehicle come to a hault. I looked around for some means of escape, but I had broken the last of my tools during the last few interrogations. My saber was locked away elsewhere. All I had to aid me was my stealth suit that I still wore. Yet it couldn't do much with me still inside the cell and with officers guarding me.
I let out a sigh as I breathed as I held my head in my hands in despair, "Guess the adventure was fun while it lasted."
"Duke?" I then heard without a voice.
I sat up straight in my cell. Looking around and down the hall I didn't see her. Yet I knew I had heard her.
Then just as I stood up the lights began to flicker. After a few moments of this they went out entirely.

Heart:
Outside the prison gates I focused my energy, making sure the entire building was put out. An odd ozone like smell lingered around me as the energy drained out of the prison. First the lights, then the cameras, finally the powered locks. Taking advantage of the dark offering me itself as a cloak I hopped the chain fence. Before long I was inside after crawling through a side window.
My heart raced as I slipped down the hollow hallway, my fabric covered feet left no trace of my presence as I hurried along. As I ran I noticed a table through one of the viewing interior windows. Duke's saber rested on it, left there with other pieces of evidence. One of these being strands of my own hair. Noticing this I quickly unlocked the door with a lockpick from my belt. Then I slipped in, grabbed Duke's saber, and burnt my own strands of hair with a small bit of electricity from my fingertips.
However, with them I noticed a folder placed on the table. Case Study #1. I took it with me, tucking it beneath my arm as I hurried away from the room.
Before long I heard the stirrings of prisoners as they heard guards approaching.
"Get the power back on!" One of the officers shouted.
"They can't! Something's stopping it from coming back, almost like the surge is being blocked!" Another informed.
A smirk came across my beak as I heard this from my hiding spot.
Then I noticed the chief point down one of the halls, "Go make sure L'Orange is secure! We don't want him missing his ride!"
Before they could move I did. Slipping around the corner, using the windowless hall to my advantage, I got around them. Then I bolted down the path, my feet pounding against the hard floor and my heart in my throat.
Soon I came to a well guarded cell. Four officers stood blocking the barred door. I reached carefully for my staff secured behind my back on my belt. With a click it extended into a pole that I then rushed up with, knocking out two of the guards before they could react. Yet one of the other two reached for me, but was grabbed suddenly by the prisoner behind the door. Gripping his jacket Duke pulled him back to slam him quickly against the bars and knocking him out. This left the fourth lunging for me that I jumped back away from before tripping him as I swung my leg out. With my staff I gave him a hearty hit on his head to knock him out as well.
Without a word I looked to Duke as he watched me quietly from the cell he stood in.

Duke:
I watched Heart in disbelief as she then got to work on unlocking my cell. Each one came undone in seconds it seemed as she ran down the line of them with her tools. While I watched her I wondered for a moment if it were really the door swung open and Heart rushed over to me to now unlock my handcuffs and chain that kept me tethered to the wall and bed. My wrists were freed a little more easily, though it didn't seem to take Heart much longer to get the rest of me loose. Once I was free she handed me my saber that I secured on my belt again before putting my gloves back on.
There wasn't time to say anything to one another as we heard several footsteps running towards us.
I took Heart by the hand and began leading us down the other end of the hall. At the end was a single barred window. Drawing my saber I made quick work of the bars to give us an opening as I smashed the window open.
"He's getting away!" One of the officers yelled after us.
I made sure Heart went through first. Once she did I followed quickly after her, slipping through the window just as our pursuers rushed over. Outside we found ourselves on a very narrow catwalk over looking the area below.
"Careful," I breathed as I glanced at her.
She nodded her head as we began to scale the side of the wall. It would have been harder to do this if they could get their spotlights working. Then I realized how long the power had actually been out. Looking to Heart I noticed as she focused, taking a deep breath before glancing back at me. Sweat matted her feathers and hair together on her forehead. Her body was beginning to shake slightly as well.
I reached over carefully and grasped her hand for a moment, "Hang in there."
Again she nodded.
With this response I turned slightly and shot up my grappling hook at the ledge of the roof. Then I looped my arm around her thin waist as she crept towards me along the catwalk. Once she was secured I began to climb up, reaching the roof of the prison to get a better view point and a way out. Beneath us several guards gathered around the exterior of the prison.
Through all of this however I noticed something odd about the vans parked around the building. One of them had the woman from before at the driver seat. For a government organization nothing stood out about these vans. Hers in particular looked quite old and beat up.
She then got out of her van, being sure to take the key with her.
Heart looked to me, speaking without words, "That won't be a problem."
I gave a quick nod as we darted across the roof. We leapt over to one of the outer walls of the gate and slid down to the street below. Dodging the few guards on the outside of the gate wall Heart and I made our way to the now empty van.
Taking note of the commotion nearby I quickly jimmied open the lock on the van. Once the door swung out I grabbed Heart and pushed her into the passenger side while I followed after her. I then shut the door and locked it as quietly as I could. Not wasting a second Heart looked over the wheel and wires. She then took a deep breath before snapping her fingers and starting the car with her energy jumping from her hands.
We were off. Other vehicles, including a van that the woman jumped into, chased after us. While we drove off Heart looked around to find any recording devices they may have bugged the van with. She found one beneath her seat and crushed it.
"Hang on!" I told Heart quickly as I turned the wheel sharply.
As the vehicle turned down a narrow road I felt Heart slide into me. I looked to see her fading in and out it seemed.
"Heart, ya okay?" I asked her worriedly.
"Yeah..." she breathed looking to me, "I'll be alright..."
"Ya used too much," I realized as I watched her.
She shook her head, "I had to get you out."
As she nearly passed out I gripped her hand, "Stay with me okay?"
Heart looked to me with a reassuring smile.
Then I glanced ahead of us, taking a brief note of the sirens behind us.
"They're not lettin' up!" I growled in exasperation.
I looked around, unlocking Heart's door suddenly, "Find something to place on the gas!"
She quickly found a small lock box.
"Perfect!" I said as I turned the vehicle towards a thick wall built near one of the parks.
"On three we jump Heart!" I told her.
She nodded her head in response as she readied herself to open her door.
"One...two..." I counted taking a quick breath and sliding close to her, "Three!"
With that she opened her door as we both leapt out. In seconds her and I made impact with the snow bank luckily resting nearby on the sidewalk of the park. I instinctively grabbed and pulled her towards me as we slid into it. Just ahead we watched for a moment as the van collided with the wall, crushing the front we had been in. As I expected sirens came after it, emergency vehicles blocked the path of the pursuing vans. This gave us a chance to slip out of sight and down the alley towards home.
Adrenaline kept us running for a while as I made sure Heart's hand was tightly within my grasp. Yet to our surprise, by some luck, we had managed to evade them. However we kept running.
Though after a while longer, when we were sure it was safe, we gradually slowed down. Again I noticed Heart wavering as her steps became unstable.
"Here," I said to her as I had her climb up onto my back and hold onto me.
"I'm sorry..." I heard her say as she wrapped her arms carefully around my neck.
"For what?!" I exclaimed, "Ya just saved me back there!"
"For you getting caught...for everything they might have done to you...for needing to be carried..."
"Heart stop," I said softly.
She clung to me tightly now, "I was scared I wouldn't get there in time...I was scared I would lose you...that I would never see you again..."
"I was scared too..." I admitted to her, "But know that I would have done it if that's what it took ta keep ya safe."
"I love you..." was her only reply.
"I love ya too sweetheart," I answered.

As we neared the hideout we found the rest of our gang waiting for us. Each of them looked to us in shock. Even Ebony was speechless.
"Duke?! You got out!" Silver exclaimed with relief in his voice.
"Well, kinda," I chuckled as I gestured to Heart who had fallen asleep holding onto me.
"It was her?!" Ebony finally asked in disbelief.
I nodded as I looked over my shoulder at the young lady holding onto me tightly, "It turns out Heart here is quite the thief herself."