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Bullets whizzed past Keryu and Diesel as they sought shelter behind the polished oak desk, wood splintering around them as the rounds collided with their saving grace.

"Dammit, Ker! I don't understand how I let you talk me into this sort of shit!"

From beneath her hood, the German Shepard girl's rainbow-tipped bangs shook as she laughed.

"Oh lighten up, Diesel. We're going to be fine. Just keep a grip on the bag; she has to run out of bullets soon."

Keryu held a nine millimeter in one black-gloved hand, its clip full. Both her and her partner in crime were swathed in black, loose clothes good for hiding their form crowned with hooded sweatshirts to hide their features. Diesel was bundled tightly in his, but Ker liked to walk on the wild side. Her unique hair was visible, an easy identifier should they get caught. Two large duffel bags were slung over their shoulders. The screams coming from the front of the bank were shifting from fear to rage at an alarming rate.

"Why here, Ker? What sort of bank lets it tellers carry guns?"

"None do, Dies. That's Mrs. Jensen. Eleanor. "

"Wait... The woman who used to be the principal of Whitmoore High? Wasn't she fired, I dunno, ten years ago?"

"Yep. You've heard the stories, haven't you? They say she was a Don's daughter- a real heartbreaker in the Sixties. People say her family's still powerful in the criminal underworld. That's why she got into banking. A damn fine cover if they ever need money laundered or whatever."

Diesel rolled his eyes and peeked around the corner.

"If we even HAD a criminal underworld- which we don't- She's way too..."

"No Dies. She's the horse, not the goat."

He looked again and his eyes widened. For being in her fifties, Eleanor Jensen was built like a damned tank. Tall and muscular, she was dressed to the nines in a form fitting blue pantsuit. Her brown hair was pulled back in a stern ponytail, and her blue eyes blazed with anger. Surely enough he could see the sleek silver Glock clutched in her right hand. She had to have connection to get a beauty like that.

"JESUS. She looks like she wants to rip my heart out and show it to me."

"Hell, you don't know. She might!"

Keryu loosed a hearty chuckle and smiled at Diesel. With a quick wink she leaned around the desk and fired two succinct shots, aiming for the filing cabinets behind the vicious teller. Mrs. Jensen ducked low, muttering curses too quiet for them to hear. A bullet whizzed across the room, bursting through the wood between the two canines.

"Oh for fuck's sake! We need to LEAVE, Ker! We can't stay here! She must have a fucking armory in her purse, she's not slowing down!"

The female shook her head and turned a stern eye to her lover.

"We have to see this through. We can't just start something this dangerous and not finish it! Besides, with the money we'll finally be able to-"

"Shh! Do you hear that?"

Keryu tilted her head to the side and strained to listen.

"Over the gunfire? No, I don't. What-"

It was growing louder. She could hear it now, easily. Sirens. The whir of a helicopter. While they were hunkered down, hiding from Mrs. Jensen's Chicago lightning, someone had called the police.

Diesel groaned and got to his feet, wrapped a paw around his dangerous lady's arm.

"Keryu, we have got to get out of here. NOW."

"No, we're staying, dammit! We need to-"

Summoning all his strength he hauled her to her feet and began dragging her toward the back door. At first Ker struggled, digger her heels into the rough carpet, fighting against the frantic pull of her accomplice. Eleanor, however, urged her forward as she began aiming for the rainbow-haired woman. The projectiles flew close to her, zipping past her slender frame. She ducked as one whizzed past her ear.

"Alright, fine, we can go! Just, duck, will you?"

They crouched low as they ran along the length of the posh building, crossed to the black door that led to the alleys. Keryu pocketed her firearm as Diesel kicked against the frame once, twice, three times; it finally rocked outward on the fourth. The two Shepards broke into a light jog as they headed down the red brick alley. Puddles of water left over from the previous night's thunderstorm parted and splashed as their paws pounded the pavement.

"I can't lie," Keryu panted, "I wish they'd chase us. Do you have any idea how much fun that would be for us?"

No sooner had the words left her lips, the door burst open once more, cracking down the middle as four flak-covered policemen began sprinting towards them. Diesel shouldered his bag and grabbed Keryu's hand. He smiled weakly at her, unable to hide the fear radiating from his eyes.

How did we get here, he thought to himself. Everything started out so normally... _____

As the warm sunlight filtered through the bedroom window, Diesel noticed that the right side of the bed was strangely devoid of his mate. He sat up and stretched, yawning as sleep lost its hold on him. He looked around, but she wasn't in the bedroom. He checked the bathroom- the shower was wet. She had already gotten ready. Taking a moment to relieve himself, he went over their schedule in his head. The only plans for the day were writing (his) and a bike ride (hers). Had she already left?

The kitchen was filled with the scent of freshly-cooked bacon. Diesel found Keryu relaxing on the couch, a book in one paw and a piece of bacon in the other.

"Mornin', Ker."

The gray-furred Shepard woman looked at him and smiled warmly.

"I made you breakfast, babe. Help yourself! There's pancakes, bacon, and orange juice on the counter for you. Grab some and come have a seat."

She was dressed in solid black, something he wasn't used to. Her hair was tied up in a loos bun, her brightly-colored bangs hanging casually over her brow. She was beautiful for all the strangeness. Diesel helped himself to the hot food and sat next to her, glad to heel her warmth against him.

"Diesel. We're going to rob a bank today."

The fluffy pancakes caught in his throat as he gasped in surprise, and he coughed and sputtered to clear his throat.

"WHAT?!"

She dog-eared her page and turned to him, unable to hide her crooked grin.

"We're going to rob a bank. The Whitmoore International, over on Madison Parkway. They'll be dead around noon, with most of their tellers out to lunch. We'll be fine, I promise."

Diesel had lost his appetite. He set his plate aside and gave his mate a pleading look.

"We can't do this, Ker. I can't do this. When you started taking night walks to look for fights, I let you. When you wanted to go base jumping, I came along. Hell, remember the fiasco at the lighthouse? When you wanted to jump off the edge? I supported you. But this, Ker... This is illegal. We can't do this, we'll go to jail!"

She patted his arm and her sly grin softened- just a little.

"Dies, we'll be fine. I swear! We won't get arrested. Look, I got you an outfit already. I also picked up this bad boy."

She pulled a black handgun from her purse and smiled at him. He could see the spark dancing behind her eyes; there would be no dissuading her, not this time. Diesel sighed heavily and got to his feet.

"Let me grab a shower; I'll be ready in half an hour."

"C'mon, Dies, keep up!"

Keryu's grip on his hand tightened as she pulled him along. Somehow, he had fallen behind. He risked a glance back over his shoulder; the policemen were still back near the door, seemingly moving like molasses. Everything, in fact, seemed to have slowed to crawl- everything except their voices.

"What are we going to do if they catch us, Ker?"

"We'll have to improvise," Keryu panted, her paws splashing through the puddles as she moved.

Diesel picked up his pace, trying to match the swiftness of his partner. As the alley ended they rounded a corner- only to be met by a solid brick wall where the path finished. He looked at Keryu with pleading eyes, and she shook her head.

"Look up; there are windows. It's an apartment complex. If I give you a boost, you can pull me up. We'll be fine."

She took off and Diesel followed, preparing himself to spring. When there was nowhere left to run she cupped her hands and he leaped, albeit not too gracefully, and with her aid managed to get his paws around the windowsill. He climbed inside and turned to grab her, but she had turned her back to him.

The police had finally caught up. ______

Diesel and Keryu entered the bank, their hoods drawn up, bags hanging limply at their sides. None of the tellers raised their heads, save for a strong-looking mare behind window number four. The duo got in line, silent, still. As the people in front of them cashed their checks and made their deposits, they prepared. Keryu placed her hands in her pockets. Diesel stared at his feet.

Keryu stood before him, and as such she reached the window first. Number three, a fairly innocuous label.

"Give me all your money."

The feline behind the counter glanced around, her eyes wide with fear.

"I'm... I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Can you repeat yourself?"

Keryu cleared her throat and raised her head, the large hood shadowing her unique features.

"I said, give me all your money. I don't want to have to hurt you."

"Well, I can't... I can't give you any money. If... If you open an account, you can leave money with us and we can get you YOUR money, but-"

She stopped and let out a small squeak as Keryu withdrew her gun. The Shepard took aim, pointing the barrel at the cat's breast.

"Give. Me. All. Your. Money. NOW, if you wouldn't mind."

She threw both her bag and Diesel's over the window and waited. The woman took them and turned- and shots rang out. The glass shattered and Diesel dropped to the ground, pulling Keryu with him.

"You've picked the wrong place, kids. I'll give you to the count of three to run out that door and get out of town. You do not want to be here when I get to three, I can promise you that."

"Ker, we need to-"

"Diesel, no, we are NOT leaving. We came here for a reason, and we need to-"

"One."

Their bags fell to the ground beside them. Diesel grabbed them tightly.

"Two."

"Alright, Dies. On two, we make a break for that office."

She gestured toward a glass-enclosed desk opposite them, inclining her head toward it and looking at him expectantly.

"Ker, I don't think-"

"Three."

With practiced ease the two of them took off, racing toward the office as bullets rained down around them. They dove in sync, crashing through the barrier and sliding behind the desk. Panting and shaking, Diesel handed Keryu her bag and slumped back against the polished wood. He felt as though his heart would explode, it was beating so quickly.

"Dammit, Ker! I don't understand how I let you talk me into this sort of shit!" ____

"Freeze! There's nowhere to run; you are under arrest for armed robbery and assault! Drop the weapon and raise your arms!"

Keryu smiled and raised her empty hands.

"Officers, I'm unarmed as you can see. You wouldn't fire on a weaponless woman, would you?"

She cocked her hips to the side and slightly lowered her head.

"Richter, get the cuffs. Miss, you're coming downtown with us. Where's your partner?"

Keryu shrugged.

"I don't know, you tell me. Are you sure I had an accomplice and not a hostage? Maybe I freed him."

"We aren't stupid. Tell us where he is!"

She did not speak. She stood silent and still, her hands in the air. Seconds seemed to stretch before her, drawing themselves out into hours. Most people would fall into pessimism in a situation like this; her partner gone, cornered by the police with nowhere to go... it almost seemed like he had fled to save himself, but Keryu knew her man. She was confident he was up to something good.

One of the larger policemen began to approach her at a run, and she steeled herself for impact. The chains of the handcuffs jingled as he ran. It was almost too perfect, like something out of a cheesy action movie.

"Ker, cover your mouth!"

Keryu covered her face with her hands. A hollow thud echoed off the brick walls, followed by the sound of pressure being released. The policemen coughed and sputtered, and she couldn't help but lower her paws.

A thick white cloud of flour made visibility almost impossible. It was hard to breath; the dust was invasive, coating her throat the moment her nose was free. It felt as though someone were cramming dough into her mouth. She sneezed and coughed, heading back toward the window. From above, Diesel tossed a chain of sheets down to her.

"Hurry up, Ker! We have to get out of here before they compose themselves!"

Her eyes watered but she forced them open. She climbed the rope as quickly as she could, and once she was through the window she sank to her knees.

"There's no time to rest, come on! You can get cleaned up when we get home. We have to move!"

Diesel offered the woman a hand and she took it, rising once more.

"Alright. You're right; I parked a few buildings down, it won't take us long to get there. Let's ditch the black- they'll have a harder time finding us."

Diesel stripped the over-clothes first, tossing them into a pile in the corner of the apartment. Keryu seemed to struggle with hers- still brash, still headstrong, but nearing exhaustion. Her adrenaline rush was wearing off, leaving her disoriented and tired. Diesel took her sweatshirt by the hem and gingerly lifted it over her head, showing her in a fine coat of flour. She smiled as she stepped out of the baggy pajama bottoms, kissing him on the cheek.

"Wait, Dies. We can't leave yet."

He glanced at Keryu with confusion.

"Why not? They know where we are, they'll find us if we-"

She held up a spender digit and placed it on his lips.

"We're in an apartment building, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"We should hide out here until it's safe- we can rest, and we won't be tackled when we leave the building. Follow me, I have an idea."

She led him up the stairs, stopping when they reached the fifth floor. They navigated their way to the elevators and pressed the call button.

"C'mon, we have to head down to the basement as quickly as possible."

"Can't we just sit for a few, Ker? I'm worn out."

She shook her head and took him by the hand.

"We'll be safe in the shaft, trust me, but to get to the shaft we have to go through the service shaft. No one will look for us there. They already think we're rookies, there's no way they'll think we're that clever."

"But, we are rookies."

She rolled her eyes at him, in good humor, and led him all the way down, down to the bowels of the brick building. _____

The basement was deserted. It took Diesel and Keryu a good fifteen minutes but they managed to find the maintenance entrance to the shaft. He boosted her in first, pulling himself up after and leaving the hatch only just a crack. They crawled through the small tunnel until it opened into the vast darkness of the elevator space. In the blackness they crouched, their arms around one another, until the day's toll took over and they fell asleep.

They awoke a few hours later, refreshed. Careful to avoid being seen, they left the building silently. Night had fallen while they slumbered- the police cars were gone, the bank was deserted. It was as though they had never been there.

Lights flashed as Keryu activated the locks on her car. They tossed their bags in the back and drove off, Diesel leaning his head against the cool glass of the window and the city lights shrunk away behind them.

"Let's never do that again, Ker."

She chuckled and patted his thigh lovingly.

"Why not? I had a blast."

"That was entirely too close for comfort. What if we had been arrested?! What if we had been shot?!"

His anger flooded him, free from the mental locks holding it in place. In the safety of their car he couldn't hold it back.

"You're always so reckless! Don't you care about our safety, our lives?! Do you truly want to be separated from me?! It sure seems like it! I'm fine with you expending this energy in a legal way, y'know, like diving or parachuting, but this?! Never again. I won't help you pull something this fucked up again. This adrenaline junkie shit is out of control."

He was being harsh, but he knew Ker well. He trusted in her, in her ability to shrug off his negativity. True, he hoped she'd heed his words, but he didn't want to hurt her. He wanted to vent.

She turned to him, smiling.

"Grab one of the bags, let's see if we got enough to get your car fixed."

Now that he had vented, he felt better- though he was still upset by the day's events. Diesel craved a distraction, and counting money would be a damned good one. He pulled one of the bags from the back seat and opened it, his eyes widening as he drank in its contents.

"How much, babe?"

Diesel look at Keryu, blushing beneath his brown fur.

"Ker... I hate to break it to you, but we forgot to actually ROB the bank."

They looked at each other and busted up laughing. ____