To Catch a Duck ~ And to Steal a Heart

By: KidHeart4

Heart:

"Duke?" I asked tilting my head slightly as I followed after him down the hall.

Pausing in his steps the drake a few feet ahead of me turned slightly to look over his shoulder at me. A smile curved his beak as I walked up to him.

"You've been quiet today," I mentioned to him, "Are you okay?"

"I'm jus' fine sweetheart," he assured me before he slipped an arm around the back of my shoulders and pulled me into a walk with him, leading me towards our room that January evening.

After a moment walking together quietly he then sighed wistfully, "Hard ta believe it's nearly been a year."

"Since we started here? That was in the Spring when we got here?"

"Nah," he shook his head, "Somethin' else."

I looked up at him with a raised brow as I tried to guess at what it was he was referring to. Yet before he could say anything further Drake One's alarm ripped through the silence of our halls. Immediately dropping our conversation we made a dash for the ready room while quick changing into our battle gear.

"There's been a break in!" Wildwing informed us as we followed him to the Migrator.

Grin and Tanya hung back while the rest of us went ahead.

Soon we were all at a museum, where Duke found mud tracks outside, leading us up the steps and through the halls. Duke shook his head as though disappointed in some way. Siege and Wraith's bickering led us right to them even without their muddy footprints as we watched from the top of a wooden railed stair well above them.

"I fear the ducks will be here any moment. If we hadn't tripped every alarm in the building breaking in-" Wraith warned nervously.

"If you'd set the stupid teleporter to bring us inside, instead of smacking into that mud puddle!" Siege grumbled back.

The two stuck their tongues out at each other. I raised a brow at this while Duke only shook his head again.

Siege then held the large ruby up in the moonlight to watch it glisten, "Oh yeah, she's the real thing alright!"

Wildwing shot a puck at Siege's hand with the blaster on his main gauntlet, knocking the gem out of the armorer lizard's grip while saying in a stern jest, "Kind of gaudy for your taste isn't it Siege?"

The two looked up at us with a united gasp.

"Heh, looks like they're muscling in on your old racket Duke," Mallory laughed as she nudged his arm while he stiffened a little.

Suddenly the two over grown lizards started shooting red blasts and fireballs at us. We retalliated with our own barrage of pucks. It always felt strange holding one to me, but I had been asked to carry one for ranged combat. However I paused my shots when I glanced at Duke as I noticed as he eluded one red shot's path while he in turn shot a grappling hook out at the ceiling. Without a word he pulled on the rope that held tight to the ceiling. After making sure it was secure he crept onto the rail and swooped down to the lower level, grabbed the ruby before Siege could, and then summersaulted through the air, releasing the rope and landing on the ground level with impressive ease that made my heart skip watching him.

Taking a moment to place the jewel in his suit pocket, he didn't notice Siege suddenly about to jump at him until he made his lunge, his looming shadow cast over the drake.

"Duke!" I called down to him.

Duke looked up just in time to see Siege hurtling himself at him. The armored lizard tackled Duke forcing him to roll onto his back; but he pushed the orange and brown lizard up over his head and behind him. As Siege collided with the wall in a heap, with a flip Duke jumped back up onto his feet as I now jumped down to meet him. The drake before me gave a quick smirk to assure me he wasn't hurt. Then he turned towards Siege and Wraith while he drew his saber, "Hey can't you bungalin' boogs pull a simple heist?"

I followed suit drawing my glaive while standing steady for the possible fight. The rest of the team had used the stairs and were aiming their puck-blasters at the two. Though just as we had tried to catch them, they teleported back to the raptor.

"Ah, missed 'em again!" Mallory exclaimed in frustration.

Wildwing turned towards the other gems on a stand beside him as he pondered aloud while we withdrew our weapons, "I wonder how many of these jewels they were planning on taking?"

"Apparently one is enough," Mallory answered in an oddly brash tone as she turned to Duke with an outstretched hand, "for some people!"

Duke's proud expression soured as he retrieved the ruby from his shirt front, "I was tryin' ta keep those over stuffed iguanas from gettin' it!"

"Yeah right," Mallory retorted with a scoff as she took the offered ruby and put it back on it's pedistal.

"Mal?" I looked to our friend in a bit of disbelief.

"Alright Mallory, ease off," Wildwing stated firmly before she had a chance to say anything else.

Shaking her head she turned and walked away. Nosedive scratched his head in puzzlement while Wildwing glanced at Duke for a brief moment with fleeting concern showing behind the mask. Beside me Duke was looking over the gems nearby with a touch of regret in his eye. Without a second thought I reached for his hand as I saw him shake his head.

"Duke?" I asked as Wildwing turned to follow both Mallory and Nosedive now.

With a frustrated sigh I heard him say under his breath, "It'll always follow me won't it?"

"What will?" I inquired while following his gaze to the ruby now before he looked back at me, "Duke?"

With a shrug he then grasped my hand as we walked after the others.

The drive home was filled with the same odd tension that had been building since the museum. Mallory tapped her fingers against the console while Wildwing drove. Nosedive looked to our older brother and then back to me still puzzled. I shared in his confusion as I looked to our teammates one by one.

"Is it that easy to go back Duke?" Mallory asked suddenly as we neared home.

"What are you talking about Mal?" I asked a bit startled by her question.

"He knows, don't you L'Orange?" Mallory questioned.

"I'm not goin' back ta anythin'." Duke tried to argue with a firm tone.

We had reached the hanger and were taking the elevator up to the main room. Yet the unease followed us as Mallory still looked at Duke with alarming distrust in her eyes. I stepped between them, trying to cut the growing tension somehow. Seeing this Mallory shook her head, "What about her Duke?"

Duke didn't answer to this and just followed after the others alongside me.

We found Grin and Tanya at Drake One's console Wildwing began informing them of what we had found at the museum. Tanya was sitting at her usual chair at the control panel talking with Grin previously. Our leader mentioned that they had gotten away again, but that we needed to watch closely for their next move to be made. The air had seemed to be clearing now and I found myself leaning against the control panel between my brothers with a sigh of relief escaping me. I glanced at Duke when Wildwing mentioned what the lizards had been after. At the moment he was standing near Grin listening for our orders.

"Duke managed to retrieve it for us, but-"

"The last person to be handling jewels is a former thief!" Mallory then added quickly while standing in the center to confront Duke.

A bit taken a back I stood alert when hearing this. Without a word I stepped across to stand at my husband's side. He stood facing Mallory with his arms folded over his chest in a firm stance.

"We gain by what we leave behind," Grin said while at Duke's right.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She questioned with her hands on her hips.

"Duke's outlaw days are over," he answered while patting Duke's shoulder before eyeing him sternly, but still good naturedly to imply he had no doubts, "right?"

"Yeah, not accordin' ta some people," Duke echoed with a glance towards Mallory.

Mallory's eyes narrowed in reply.

I rested a gentle hand against Duke's tense shoulder while he still stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Taking a deep breath he shook his head and then glanced at me briefly.

"Well if this whole show's goin' ta be about Duke, I'm just gonna check in with my comic books," Dive said as he started to walk away before shrugging towards me, "Have fun sis!"

Wildwing quickly pulled our brother back by his arm, scolding him lightly, "Not so fast baby brother, we've got work to do!"

Then turning to Tanya our leader asked, "What would Dragonus want with the world's biggest ruby?"

"Gems are used as focusing devices for rays," she pointed out.

"But what kind of ray? That's what worries me," our leader pondered while rubbing his chin.

Duke:

Relieved that the attention was taken off of me I stepped away and slipped down the hall. Not even having to turn around I knew I was being followed.

Though she'd at first been listening to her brother and the others discuss what we needed to look out for, I had noticed her pulling away after me. I turned on my heel to expectedly find my wife standing before me. In response to my turning around so quickly she paused in her own steps.

"Hey," she started gently, "Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" I questioned with a shrug, trying to forget what just happened between our teammates and I.

"Because I know you?" She pushed in a cautious tone while folding her arms over her chest now.

"Do ya really?" I asked her looking right into her eyes.

The fleeting hurt that touched those eyes made me recoil with a bit of regret.

"I believe I do," she said after taking a breath.

Standing there in the hallway like we were I couldn't help but feel further tension building in between even us. The words from just before lingered in the back of my head as I could hear the others distantly now. Perhaps some part of me was worried she was starting to side with those doubts echoing around me.

"Duke?" She asked while quick changing into her casual attire.

Looking her over I noticed she was wearing a burgundy turtleneck, over it a teal dress vest that stopped at her thin waist, ebony leggings, and a flowing checkered black and white skirt with lace in the under layer over them. Her hair was tied back by the silk ebony ribbon I'd given her.

"Heart, I'm sorry," I then attempted in a much softer tone.

She looked up at me, the hurt had already washed away it seemed to my relief.

"Would ya adventure with me for a bit sweetheart?" I then asked her before offering a hand to her, "I could use the company."

Her trusting smile was my answer.

Quick changing I then stood before her in dark slim formed pants, a burgundy casual dress shirt, and a black over vest. Once ready I offered my arm to her as we slid around the others to head out on the town for a while.

Our wanderings brought us to Anaheim Park as we strolled beneath the lamp lights. A nostaglia of sorts hung in the air as we echoed our steps from several months ago. Little was said between us for a bit however as we simply held one another's hands and walked along. Being out in the open, cool night air of January seemed to be helping to ease the tension some, though some of the comments from before tried to tug at the back of my head In an attempt to ignore them for at least a short time I glanced at Heart as she then pulled me along by our threaded hands.

"The fountain's still lit up," she mentioned curiously before mentioning with a smile, "Probably for night walkers like us."

However after standing at the fountain with her a minute I couldn't help as but catch our reflection in the water that stirred my frustrations to the surface again. The clear mark from my past staired back at me with disdain.

"Why do ya stand by me?" I suddenly asked her just loud enough for her to hear as others walked by.

She looked up at me bewildered by this sudden questioning of her faith in me.

"When we met ya put your trust in me without much reason to," I said to her almost in disbelief as I recalled our introduction.

"Why would I question it?" She asked.

"'Cause the others still have their doubts despite the almost last year we've spent here on Earth. Why don't you?" I questioned.

"You know why," she said without batting so much as an eyelash.

"Ya weren't in love with me on Puck World when we met..." I trailed back looking over memories in the back of my head, "An' even now we haven't been together that long."

"Duke, I was told you were our allie, and you gave me no reason to question that. As I recall you came to meet us not knowing you would be pardoned didn't you?" She reminded me, "Your past helped shape who you are, and I love who you are."

I looked at Heart almost not believing her for a moment, "Ya know, they say love can be blind sweetheart?"

"I am not blind Duke!" she said firmly, "Not to this. I don't have my memories, so I don't have a past before all of you. What I do have is our team, and through that I now have you. I didn't doubt you then, and I have no reason to doubt you now!"

Stunned by her words I couldn't help but look inwards at my own memories. One in particular came to mind as I took in what she had just told me. A bit of my core realized I still hadn't told her something I should have a long time ago.

"If not for these skills, you might not be standin' here beside me," I told her twhile it was just the two of us without interruptions this time.

She nodded her head with a shy smile creeping over her as she recalled, "You have saved my life a number of times over this last year, swept me off of my feet in fact a few of those times haven't you?"

"Yeah, but I meant..." I attempted with a bit of a chuckle emerging from my throat at the reminders she was mentioning.

Then I caressed her cheek a moment before reaching back behind her head to run my fingers through her hair, gently brushing against the scarring I had always known her to have, much to my regret, and whispered, "Let her go..."

"Duke?"

"Canard told me you'd lost your memories due to a scuffle ya had with some thugs your first night there?" I started carefully.

"Yeah...though I think someone must have intervened for me to end up at their door as I did..." she abruptly looked up at me as though starting to remember now.

"Sweetheart," I started gently while resting my other hand on her shoulder, "I stepped in."

Her eyes widened when I told her this, as though she were reliving that night. I noticed her recoiling slightly, folding her arms over her chest as she shivered. For a moment I worried it was from me she was pulling back from.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" She asked while shaking slightly still.

"I tried to at first, but somethin' would always interrupt," I admitted, "an' I was afraid of stirrin' up things too fast."

While we stood there still I attempted to reach out to her, but faltered from my lingering fear she'd blame me for what happened. If I had been able to reach her sooner she would know who she really was, or where she was from. We'd recently begun to help her piece it together with her, but she wouldn't have had to do this if I hadn't been just getting out of a job when it was happening and I could have reached out to her before they grabbed her.

"Heart, are you alright?" I asked while trying to mask how nervous I was.

She started to nod her head before asking me, "Why were you there that night in the first place?"

I froze, almost afraid to admit to her the truth; but being open with her was the only shot I felt I had to chip away at the ice I feared was growing between us.

Quietly I answered, "I was kinda on a job that night. I had been tryin' to get some things off my mind when the storm hit that night. So I hopped into the nearest apartment an' decided to have what I called fun at the time. The sky was clearin' a bit when I stepped back out an'...that's when I first saw ya across the street."

I waited for her to turn away from me. I thought she might leave me there, angry or hurt as I attempted, "I saw them grab ya, but I couldn't get to ya in time to prevent ya from gettin' hurt."

She then looked up at me with widened sapphire eyes as she said to me, "You were trying to help me?"

I nodded my head while internally reliving the moment, "If I had just reached out to you first, if I hadn't been worried about getting arrested, you'd still have your memories an'-"

"If you weren't on a job that night I might not be here at all!" She said to me abruptly.

I fell silent as I looked to her stunned by her words. She then added in a calmer, softer voice, "Duke, you saved my life that night! You brought me to my home, and..." she paused briefly before asking me, "Do you remember if you said anything to me while I was knocked out?"

Thinking back a moment I nodded and answered, "Hang in there sweetheart...why?"

"I...I think you helped me to keep my name," we both realized as she said it herself.

I couldn't help but give a light smile as I felt the tension that I realized wasn't between us evaporate from me. In that same moment I would feel her throw her arms around my lean frame, breaking away the fear I'd been harboring all this time since that night and meeting her again. In return I wrapped my arms around her tightly.

"Are you okay Heart?" I attempted after a moment or two.

She nodded her head as she hugged me still, "Thanks to you I am...but you need to know Duke that I still wouldn't question my trust in you. "

I felt a relieved smile curving my beak as I looked over her, "Thank you sweetheart; I honestly don't know what I'd do if I lost that from ya."

With that I bent forward slightly and kissed her forehead as she assured me, "You'll never have reason to worry about that Duke."

"I love you," she then added sweetly as I kissed her cheek, before she then tilted her head slightly to kiss me directly.

Heart:

When we returned to the pond it was quite late. Duke and I slipped through the halls without a sound so not to wake the others. However as we wandered through the brightly lit hallway I looked to the drake beside me. His shoulders seemed to have eased from the tension weighing them down before, and his steps were lighter once again. Smiling up at him still I felt my own concerns from earlier washing away for the time being. Soon after we reached our room, changed into casual attire, and got some needed rest.

The next morning the others all had an early practice. Though the air wasn't as thick as the night before, something still seemed to linger from it. Even at breakfast before hand things had been rather quiet. Nosedive had been his usual self at the very least and had come over to show me one of his new comics. Yet my attention had remained focused on Duke as he avoided Mallory and was indifferent with most of the others. He eventually made his way over to Nosedive, Grin, and I sitting together. However he didn't stop to sit with us. Instead he paused long enough to grasp my shoulder, squeezing it briefly in a gentle grip, before heading down the hall.

"Is he okay?" Nosedive asked as we watched him leave.

"He was," I sighed while glancing at Mallory.

Mallory seemed to notice and shook her head. She then walked over to us and attempted with concern in her eyes, "Heart, I know you married him, but it hasn't even been a year since he changed. He was an outlaw much longer, and I don't want you to get hurt, or worse yet get dragged along with him if he decides he misses those days."

"He wouldn't go back to that Mallory," I stated while getting up and walking away from her.

Hoping things just needed to air out a bit I found myself leaving the galley to find Duke no where to be seen in our headquarters. So I wandered up to the main floor of the pond and into the locker room.

"Hey sweetheart," Duke greeted me without having to look to see it was me.

He was in his gear and ready to head out onto the ice, only needing to pull his gloves on as he was.

"Duke, I know it's frusrating, but try to let things settle a bit," I attempted.

He nodded his head quietly as I walked up to him. He reached for his hockey stick hanging up along the wall with the others. Behind us we heard the others heading in after us. Before he could step away I reached my hand to his that gripped his hockey stick, "Duke?"

He took a deep breath and then went out to the rink with me following him. As the others eventually came out they started their practice. I sat on one of the benches while watching them as usual. Though I didn't even bother to draw as I watched to see how Duke was so quiet the whole time, and all I could think to do was try and show my support.

Suddenly Nosedive's com went off and he answered loudly, "Mighty Ducks, we take a knockin' an' keep rockin'! You've got the Dive live!"

"It's Kleghorn, you remember the ruby those lizards tried to steal?" The voice on the other end replied.

"Yeah, yeah, so?" Nosedive questioned while I skated over to them to listen.

"Someone stole it! Last night!" The officer exclaimed.

Dive covered the communicator a moment while growling with annoyance, "Ooh, those creep-a-sore-eye didn't wait long to come back did they?!"

"Unless it wasn't the creep-a-sore-eye," Mallory pondered aloud, and then she turned towards Duke pointedly, "You weren't here last night Duke!"

"Yeah, an' neither was most of Anaheim, ya gonna accuse them too?!" Duke snapped with his own temper rising.

Sliding up to him I tried to rest my hand against his shoulder to try and get him to calm down. Yet he shifted away from me when Wildwing told him in a firm tone, "Hey, no one's accusing you okay?"

Then with slight hesitation our leader asked, him "But, just for the record, where were ya?"

Duke glanced over his shoulder at Wildwing, a glare in his eye while he answered, his voice filled with irritation, "Out."

With that Duke skated towards the locker the room while I followed after him, only looking at the others for a moment with confusion stirring in my head. Once I entered the locker room after him, I found Duke as he seemed to be trying to resist throwing his gear into his locker. Half out of his hockey uniform from the waist up I could see the tension building in his shoulders again as he stood there with his hands balled into his fists.

"Duke?" I asked softly as he jumped slightly and turned towards.

"Heart?" He breathed out, his tone unusually rougher than I knew it to ever be.

I walked over to him, noticing the scars from his past that marked him. He took note of this and tried to step away to find his battle gear. Before he could I reached out and rested a hand against his arm carefully. Releasing a deep breath Duke looked at me before allowing himself to slam his locker shut and pulling me against him in a tight hold around my smaller frame. After a moment or two he pulled away and went to get dressed when I held onto his hand still. Then while the others were still outside the locker room, more than likely letting us be I guessed, he took a second to sit on the middle bench in an attempt to let out a breath to ease his frustrations. Watching him like this I found myself reaching out and rubbing his shoulders while standing before him, "...Duke..."

"Why do ya believe me?" he asked while looking down at the floor with his shoulders sinking.

"You know why Duke," I told him.

"I could have stolen it while you were sleepin'," he commented in a soured tone.

"I know you didn't," I told him as I sat on the bench beside him now and carefully reached out a hand to have him look at me.

A slight smile broke through as he said quietly, "Thank you sweetheart."

Soon after we met Kleghorn at the museum. Wildwing was examining a huge cut out hole in the wooden door that lead to the ruby. I stood beside my husband as we watched closely and observed the room ourselves.

"Who is this guy, a sushi chief?" Kleghorn questioned.

"Definitely done with a blade," Wildwing stated as he stood up.

The rather open room we were in was red upon the floor and walls with a few portraits hanging up, and a small table standing behind us.

"Like a sword," Mallory pointed out while glancing at Duke's saber.

"Oh unbelievable," Duke muttered as he turned and walked away from us.

Again I looked at Mallory, internally questioning her accusations. Shaking my head I then followed Duke, pausing in my own steps when he stopped suddenly. I followed his curious gaze to find a single tan feather lying on the floor.

"Duke?" I asked while watching him pick it up with the tip of his saber.

Then he walked over to the others, interrupting their discussion as he told them, "I know who did this."

The others turned to him as he showed them the feather and explained, "I found this on the floor; it belongs to Falcone!"

"Uh, who?" Dive asked in confusion.

"He was in the mob I ran on Puck World, The Brotherhood Of The Blade!" Duke explained while gesturing towards the door now with his saber, "That's just his style!"

"Yeah, but if he's on Puck World-"

"Dragonus must have brought 'em here!" Duke quickly interrupted Mallory's doubts at his claim.

"Then let's get this bird to tell us what old lizard lips is up to!" Nosedive said.

"Falcone? No, he'll never talk!" Duke laughed with his hands on his hips and shaking his head.

"There's only one way to get to him," he then added while placing a hand beneath his chin thoughtfully.

Not long after this we headed back to the pond to inform Tanya and Grin of what had been found. While the others all went to the main room I instead followed Duke as he slipped down the hall towards our room without a word.

"Duke!" I called as I hurried after him.

Once more he paused and waited for me to catch up to him.

Duke:

I had been eager to get away from the others for the moment. Though it seemed Nosedive had believed what I had said, there had still been some doubt lingering in the air between my teammates and I. Yet I knew I couldn't focus on that while he was out there doing Dragonus's dirty work. In fact I was a bit concerned knowing he was out there somewhere.

Concerned enough that when Heart followed after me I nearly turned around and told her to stay with the others for now. However when I spun around on my heel to face her I found myself unable to request this. For I instead I looked into the eyes of the only one who wasn't doubting me right now, and I felt myself reaching a hand out to her because of this. When she accepted it I lead her to our room before anyone found us.

Once inside our bedroom I let go of her hand and went to our closet to retrieve something from inside of it.

"Duke?" She then asked from where she sat on the sofa behind me with her legs tucked under her.

Upon finding the two parcels hidden away I walked up to her. Sitting beside her I gripped the packages in my hands tightly.

"Heart, I..." why was I hesitating?

She looked up at me still while waiting for me to speak. Yet as she did, I watched as her gaze met with mine and then focused a bit on where my right eye should have been. Now I tried to pull back, more so out of unease and instinct; but stopped when I instead felt her hand cautiously reach up and caress that side of my face.

"Is...is he the one that did this to you?" She asked me carefully.

I nodded my head quietly as I noticed a flash of empathetic pain touch her eyes a moment. She then leaned forward and kissed me on my right cheek. With a slight smile I asked her once more, "Why sweetheart?"

"You know why," she repeated firmly as she looked up at me still, her trust unwavering.

"Please?" I requested gently.

"I love you Duke, but even before I did I knew I had no reason to doubt you," she said in a tone that never faltered.

In turn I took her by both hands and requested, "Heart, this mission, I have to take care of this one. No matter what ya hear, I need ya to have that faith in me."

"I'm going with you Duke," she then said, catching me off guard a bit.

"Heart?"

"I'll go with you," she repeated, "But not because I don't believe you."

I looked at her with a smile curving my beak, "The others might not understand. We can't tell them or my plan won't work."

"Then we'll explain once it's over," she said.

"Heart...ya don't have to do this," I barely attempted as I found myself admitting I wanted her at my side just as much as she wanted to be there.

"I'm staying with you no matter what happens Duke," she reaffirmed, not giving me a chance to refuse this promise.

"Alright," I said as I handed her one of the parcels that I wasn't sure until now if I was ready to give her.

Upon opening it she found a tailor made stealthsuit of burgundy and black fabric. When I opened mine she saw they were similar in style and shades. She then slipped behind the changing screen we had in the corner to put hers on while I changed into mine from the other side.

Slipping into mine was almost alien to me after so long. It were as though a part of me was coming back, a part of me I knew I didn't want to be anymore. Even as I pulled my gloves over my hands I felt myself from over a year ago echoing back out to me. Yet it was the side of me he knew, and I had to use that to my advantage.

Heart:

When I stepped out from behind the changing table Duke had his back to me. I found that my steps made no sound as I approched him. As I did he still turned around as though knowing to face me. His remaining brown eye widened a bit when he looked over me.

In turn, for the first time, I felt something tug at my heart when I saw him standing there as he was. I nearly froze in fact with my knees buckling when I noticed his lean, but strong frame was concealed from the neck down in burgundy and black. His saber was resting on his belt on the back rather than against his shoulder. His boots were discarded to make for soundless steps from stocking covered feet as he walked up to me.

My own suit was quite similar but with flared sleeves at the ends for my longer gloves to slip up into. I had also been given a gold silk ribbon to tie my hair back with.

"Ravishin'," he breathed before collecting himself as he swept my hand up and kissed it.

There was a shimmer of charm in his eye as he watched me blush. Then he stepped behind me, seemingly to look over the suit I wore. Though before I could turn with him I felt him slipping something gently around my neck. Glancing just below my collar bone I found a sapphire carefully cut into the shape a heart that hung from a gold chain as he clasped it carefully behind my neck, being sure not to tangle my hair with it. Then he smoothly swept my ponytail back over the latch and watched as I turned to face him with bewildered eyes and a deeper blushing face.

"I want ya ta have this my love," he told me as he leaned close to kiss my cheek.

"Duke...?" I stammered while he smiled still.

"I've kept it with me for a long time, as it was a very important piece I stole back on Puck World," he explained to me, "I gave a part of myself to get this one, so I've held onto it since."

While glancing up at him I knew exactly what he was revealing to me. As he did I gently brushed my gloved fingers over the deep blue gem, admittedly admiring it a bit. Though not simply for it's glistening form.

"Duke...are you sure?"

He gave me a charming smile, "You are the only one that accepts me without question. Of course I'm sure sweetheart."

"Th-Thank you," I replied as my heart skipped a beat while looking up at him still.

As though knowing this he pulled me close to him for a moment and kissed me. Then he stepped back, taking me by the hand, and asked, "Are ya ready then love?"

"I am," I assured him as we stepped out into the hallway.

Duke:

As we headed up to the main room I couldn't help but notice her watching me even closer than usual. While watching an old side of myself emerge again, I in turn was witnessing a new side of her. The innocence I knew her to have was shifting, blending with curiosity as she looked over at me and clasped the sapphire in her hand against her chest.

"Heart?" I heard myself ask with a bit of surprise as she looked over my stealthsuit again, "Do ya like seein' me this way?"

Her cheeks nearly matched her burgundy hair when I asked her this question. While seeing her react in this way I couldn't help but feel a tug at my heart.

"I...that is..." she stammered still while obviously flustered.

I hadn't seen her like this since we'd first started getting to know one another, when her feelings were new towards me. When I'd begun flirting with her, or when we were just starting to be together. Then again we'd really hadn't been together very long, barely half a year now and less so married thus far.

Now as we stood in the elevator to reach the others in the ready room, I watched as she tried to find her words with curiosity of my own peeking.

Taking a deep breath she finally said, "I feel like I'm finally getting to know all of you, including this hidden side of you...and...I think in a way I've always wanted to see and understand this part of you..."

"Does my bein' a thief make ya curious?" I asked in disbelief.

"Is that wrong?" She asked shyly while risking another glance over my lean frame encased in burgundy and black before looking up at me.

I couldn't help but smile with some confidence returning to me as I stood beside her, "Well sweetheart, if that's what ya like don't let me discourage ya."

I didn't think she could blush any deeper, but she proved me wrong and I couldn't help but chuckle softly to learn this, "I love ya so much."

"I love you too..." she answered sweetly before I heard her catch herself from finishing with what I thought she wanted to further say?

Before I could venture to ask we heard the others discussing their concerns in regards to me outside the door, breaking us from this moment.

Heart:

"You haven't even given Duke the benefit of a doubt!" We heard our leader shout.

"Well I'm sorry Wildwing, but he's been acting suspiciously!" Mallory argued.

"There's no reason to believe that Duke would ever return to a life of-" the elevator's opening doors interrupted Wildwing momentarily when Duke and I stepped out, "-crime?"

We walkled up to our teammates, pausing before them when Nosedive pointed out, "Kind of over accessorized there, aren't ya buddy boy?"

"Those are burglar tools," Wildwing realized out loud, and I thought I saw concern flash in his eyes again behind the mask when he saw me in similar attire to Duke.

"Nah, hunting tools," Duke assured while shaking his head.

"Tanya and Nosedive will go with ya, to help," Wildwing offered quite urgently at first before stating more cautiously at the end there.

"Oh, ya mean ta make sure I don't steal anythin'?!" Duke snapped, before hastily turning to walk away.

My heart twisted in my chest when I noticed the hurt and angered glare in Duke's eye, the mouth of his beak curving into a grimace, as he turned his back on our leader. I tried to reach my hand out to grasp his arm, but he slipped from my gloved fingers along with the sweet moment we had just shared before this.

"I didn't say that," Wildwing tried to tell him, but Duke was already in the elevator with the doors closing again.

"Duke must reconcile himself with his past, or he'll have no peace," Grin said while shaking his head.

For a moment I paused as I watched Duke disappear as these words were said. I turned to face my brothers, who both looked to me with growing concern.

"Sis what's going on?" Wildwing questioned, causing me to turn towards him in particular.

After seeing Duke as I just had I felt my own frustrations rising to the surface. Looking up at my brother now I could feel a strain I'd never known between my teammates and I forming. I wasn't even sure how to answer his question I was so thrown off from this. Only Grin offered a nod to me as his eyes told me they understood. However even without this I would have said fimly still, "I'm going with Duke."

Wildwing quickly placed a hand on my shoulder in an attempt to stop me as I turned away to follow after him, "Look, I know I can't tell you what to do. He's your husband and I know you love him, but this is-"

"Is what?" I questioned sharply and pulled away from Wildwing's hand.

"It's dangerous!" Mallory burst out with worry in her blue eyes while looking over my suit, "This isn't like you at all Heart! You're not a thief! Why are you following into this?"

"Mallory?!" I exclaimed while trying to hold in my own temper now.

"For someone who's trying to show us he isn't an outlaw anymore he's making some questionable choices!" she said to me, "Only now he's pulling you along too?!"

I felt my brow furrowing with frustration as I stepped away from them. Shaking my head I knew I didn't have an answer for them, at least not one they'd listen to it seemed. Turning away to follow Duke I then heard my eldest brother say in a softer, but still protective tone, "Be careful out there okay?"

"We'll be fine!" I insisted, barely shying away from how frustrated I was with them, before hurrying after Duke.

I found Duke in the Aerowing already preparing for the launch. For a moment I wondered if he had been so frustrated that he would have left me behind. Though when he glanced at me for a moment this concern quickly washed away. Without words he assured me he would have waited. Then I sat beside Duke while he took the controls. That's when he seemed to take note of my own aggravation and asked gently, "Are ya okay Heart?"
With a quick breath taken I looked to him without a doubt, "I know we will be."

Then Tanya and Nosedive soon entered the aircraf. Duke shook his head slightly in irritation upon hearing them come up to us. Yet he swallowed this frustration for the moment and simply told them to prepare for the launch.

Soon enough we were in the air and heading up north of the state a bit.

"You know, I like fog as much as the next duck; but what exactly are we doing in San Francisco?" Tanya asked after a little while of flying.

"Yeah, there's a pattern to these crimes; the world's biggest jewels; an' the biggest diamond's in Frisco!" Duke explained.

He then glanced over at me, as though asking if I were ready. I gave a nod to reassure him.

We soon landed outside the Pacific Museum. We got out and approached the door.

Duke examined the door and the dismantled lock, making a quiet note, "Falcone's already here."

Then Duke opened the door as it creaked slightly. Once it had Duke swiftly grabbed my hand as we darted inside together. This left Dive and Tanya outside to follow cautiously. I could hear Tanya calling out to us quietly as she peeked inside the main entrance. Before they stepped inside Duke nodded gestured towards a vent. In seconds we were scailing up to it with aid of his grappling hook, opening it, and then slipping into it without a sound.

"Gee, I coulda swore I jus' saw 'em a second ago," I heard Nosedive comment from beneath us.

"Sorry, but we gotta do this one alone," Duke apologized as we slipped through the vents without another sound.

It was from here on out that Duke stopped trying to ask in any way if I was sure. Now that this mission had begun he focused on the adventure just beginnng for the both of us, and even seemed to be at ease as we started along together.

Before much time passed we were crawling out of the vents into a new room. It was well lit with a diamond placed in the center on a pedestal. There was a glass case over it that Duke slipped off with ease after disabling the alarm to it. His gloved hands kept him from leaving any evidence as he was holding the case or the gem he now reached for. Then he handed me the case carefully so he could pull an almost identical diamond from the pouch on his belt.

"It's glass," I realized softly.

Duke gave a slight smirk at this, "Good eye sweetheart. All those drawings give ya an eye for detail."

He then set the glass gem on the pedestal and helped me set the case over top of it just right. Placing the real diamond in his pouch he said to me, "It's only ta keep it from Falcone. I'll return it once this is over."

"You don't need to explain to me Duke," I assured him as he gave a relieved smile to hear this.

He then walked me over to behind a statue placed in the corner of the room.

"I'll give the signal, but I want ya out of his sight 'til it's safe," he explained.

"Duke, I'm not afraid of this guy, I can help fight him?"

"Please sweetheart, jus' let me handle this part. He will try an' use ya against me if he see ya with me before I can talk to him?" He requested earnestly.

"The plan is to convince him you're a thief again?" I asked.

He gave a slight scoff, "Should be easy enough, our teammates are convinced so far."

Yet rather than trying to reassure him of what he already knew I felt a certain intrigue about all of this beginning to stir in me. While he was still crouched down beside me I could see a bit of who he once was emerging as he waited quietly beside me. I briefly wondered if he could tell my knees were a bit weak from seeing his confident smirk as he heard me say, "Show me this side of you, and maybe I can give you an answer myself?"

"Alright sweetheart," he said while glancing at me briefly, a bit taken a back at first before smoothly adding, "I don't really mind bein' the thief for ya a little while."

He'd done that on purpose, knowing I'd blush before we focused on the task at hand again. Though this brief exchange between us did seem to help. For his relaxed nature seemed to return, and I was able to prepare myself for what he may need me to support him through as the night went on. In a way, I couldn't help but feel a skip in my heart as I took a quick breath to prepare for the rush of a night ahead of us.

We didn't have to wait much longer as a falcon like man stepped in. I glanced over at Duke with an inquizative look in my eyes. The hardening glare in my husband's eye told me everything while he still watched without a sound.

The falcon was dressed in black desert fairing pants and a red cape, with a gold clasp that had a crest on it bearing the very bird of prey he was. Over his feet were ebony tabi boots where his pants tucked into the tops of them. At his wrists were gold cuffs. He had a bulkier frame than Duke that he had no problem showing off, thus being the cause of him shedding a feather or two as we had found before.

Lifting up the case without gloves he picked up the fake diamond in his uncovered hands. For someone from Duke's old gang I was rather surprised to see this carelessness.

"My God, I'm good!" he proclaimed in a british voice to himself with a smug smirk twisting his pointed beak.

Suddenly Duke stood up with me still hidden beside him and stepped out soundlessly. With this he shot out his grappling hook, knocking the fake jewel out of his fellow rogue's hand. Upon hitting the floor it shattered into pieces.

The other thief turned to Duke, who spoke smoothly while pulling back his grappling hook and taking out the real diamond from the pouch attached to his belt, "Still can't tell glass from the real thing, huh Falcone?"

Duke had his saber drawn and held in his left hand. Standing there in his stealth suit with such a focused look in his eye tugged at me somehow again. The drake I had come to know through all of these months seemed to be different in a way, and yet I still felt I had seen glimpses of him before this. Only now the thief that he was before we met fully emerged. A thrill for adventure ran up my spine as I watched him quietly.

"Duke, old chum! I thought you'd become one of those dreary do-gooders," Falcone jested while drawing his saber that sparked with electric energry running up and down it.

"Don't be so sure, I may have a little larceny left in me!" Duke scoffed as he braced himself for a duel.

"En Guard!" Falcone shouted now as he suddenly lunged at Duke.

Duke blocked it with little effort, even while using his left hand. For he was holding the diamond with his dominant hand.

"I've been perfecting my arts, while going strait has made you soft!" the falcon taunted.

Duke didn't say a word as he focused on the fight itself.

They parried and fought. Blocking one another's attacks and taking swipes at the other here and there. Falcone slowly backed away from Duke's advance as he pushed forward.

"Well, maybe not so much as soft as pliable!" Falcone attempted a laugh as he jumped onto a table behind him.

Duke followed suit as their sabers clashed again, tangling together. With a shift along the blades Duke twisted the saber from Falcone's grip, knocking it across the room onto the floor.

"Perhaps, just a tad bit mushy," the unarmed thief spoke nervously while backing away from the drake.

The falcon then slipped on the edge of the table and fell to the floor in a clumbsy, startled yelp.

"Is that anyway to treat an artist?" Falcone questioned to save face as he landed while Duke jumped down and stood before him.

"Aw, don't take it so hard Falcone; I might even be willin' to let ya have this rock!" Duke mentioned while looking at the diamond in his hand.

"I say, that's awfully decent of you. In exchange for what?" Falcone inquired with suspicion.

"Well if you're stealin' these jewels for Dragonus, you've gotta have an angle huh?" Duke said with growing interest, "Cut me in on it!"

Falcone stood up with greater suspicion as he mentioned, "Now hold the phone, old boy, I thought you went straight?"

"Hey not accordin' to my teammates, I've had it with those birds!" Duke said with contempt in his voice before admitting to his fellow thief, "I want in on the action!"

Falcone began to reach for the diamond, but Duke pulled it from his reach and taunted his eagerness a bit, "Nuh-uh, not 'til ya tell me what this is all about."

"Patience, I'll fill you in," Falcone assured with a casual shrug before offering, while adding his own propisition, "after you help me steal the Dumont Sapphire of Fredonia?"

Duke's remaining eye narrowed into a slight glare before Falcone coaxed eagerly, not making note of this, "It'll be like the old days!"

"Okay!" Duke finally agreed while placing the diamond in the pouch on his belt once again.

"Come on, my ship's on the roof!" Falcone offered with excitement in his voice with a hand on Duke's shoulder.

While Falcone began leading him towards the ship, I heard Duke whisper under his breath, "Now who's connin' who here, huh?"

Then Duke paused and gave a nod to me. I stood up from my hiding spot as he walked over to me.

Falcone took notice and asked quickly, "Who's this ol' friend?"

"This is Heart, my wife an' partner," Duke introduced with his gloved hands grasping my shoulders firmly, "I needed to know your answer before introducin' her."

"Isn't she one of them? You think it's a good idea to bring her along?" Falcone scoffed.

"As I said, she's my partner," Duke said firmly as he glanced at me for a moment, "Right sweetheart?"

Without batting an eyelash I nodded my head, "I am."

When he still wasn't convinced I offered my own answer, "Duke's told me of his adventures from the brotherhood. It's opened my eyes to a side of him I wish to know more about and in turn has made me want to live that life with him. It sounds far more thrilling."

"So you've pulled her in have you?" Falcone asked with an intrigued laugh.

"It seems so," Duke said, "So she stays with me an' we'll help ya get this sapphire."

"I guess I can't complain too much then," he agreed with a smirk.

Duke:

Soon we were aboard one of Dragonus's scout ships. Towards the back was a device holding the recently stolen emerald and ruby placed in their spaces. Two empty holdings remained for what I guessed were the diamond and sapphire. Aside from that the whole ship was of red metal, matching seats in their crimson shade, and a darkly shaded control panel to go with everyone.

I offered Heart the second seat while standing behind her as we took off. I braced myself as I held onto the back of her chair crouched down. As we traveled through the night sky I told her of some of the adventures I'd lived through while in the brotherhood.

It was now that Falcone made note of the necklace around Heart's neck. He gave a slight chuckle, "I can't believe you held onto that one."

"I think it's the only one I still had on me durin' the invasion," I said while standing up now, "An' considerin' what I gave up to get it I think it makes perfect sense."

Heart looked up at me hearing this again. I then noticed her clasping the sapphire tightly in her hand.

"Water under the bridge I hope?" Falcone offered in slight jest with a shrug.

"I've learned to live with it," I replied calmly while glancing over Heart, who understood my comment far better than he did it seemed.

Then to ease the concern in her eyes I mentioned with a smirk, "Besides, I'd say that sapphire it suits her nicely."

Falcone let out another laugh at this, shaking his head, "You haven't changed much at all I see."

"So I've been told," I shrugged, wondering what Heart would have said to this if she had known more about my past.

"From what I've seen I'd say so too," she then said, throwing me off guard a bit.

However her smile gave me the answer I was now looking to her for, but couldn't ask her directly at the moment.

Shortly after we landed on the roof of a huge clock tower. The moon was full as it cast it's soft glow to light our way. The air was comfortable for it being January, or maybe it simply felt that way with the rush of adrenaline running through us now. While leaving the ship we approached a stone wall along the roof of the clock tower we stood upon.

"Just like the good ol' days," Falcone snickered before looking around.

"Shh!" I hissed as I gestured for us to look down.

Below us was a guard dressed in a long red coat, to signify we were in some port of the U.K., standing in front of a door as I mentioned quietly to them, "Where there's a guard, there is loot."

Falcone began an attempt at coming up with a plan. However I wasn't waiting. It wasn't only a matter of time before our teammates came looking for us after leaving them behind at the museum. Without a word I jumped down, tackling the guard, and landing safely in a roll along the ground with the guard knocked unconscious.

I then looked up to see Heart watching me from the rooftop. With a smile I held my arms out as she jumped down to me. A rush of energy and pride swept through me as I caught her securely in my arms. It was then that I also caught her looking up at me with those eyes of hers touched with admiration as she blushed. Giving her my most charming smile I then set her down safely.

Then I turned back to the guard and tied him up while Falcone scaled the wall down to us. Once on the same level he unlocked the door with his saber. During all this Heart kept a steady watch for us.

Heart:

Duke dragged the guard inside after Falcone entered the room. Then I followed him.

The room was made of stone to match the rest of the tower with one large window placed high up, allowing the moon light to flow in.

Duke dropped the guard carefully and began heading towards the safe in the wall he'd spotted, pointing it out to us quietly, "Okay, there's the safe!"

Falcone grabbed him by the shoulder to stop him in his tracks as he proclaimed with a puff of pride in his chest, "Step aside. Watch how a real pro cracks a safe."

"Oh please, ya couldn't crack your knuckles without settin' off an alarm," Duke laughed as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Watch and learn," Falcone assured while approaching the safe, "I'll open this primitive piggy bank in a flash!"

Duke walked over to a corner of the room, throwing himself into the seat of a wooden chair. Folding his hands behind his head he leaned back a bit and said, "Yep, let me know when ya need me!"

With a smile curving my lips I looked over at him before walking over to his side. There I stood, trying to wait patiently. Duke then looked up at me with concern in his eye as I stood with my arms crossed over my chest beside him. I looked to him with a steady trust my own.

Duke:

Heart was saying so much to me in this exchange without so much as a sound. As she looked to me now I knew she wasn't asking for an explanation to any of this. She didn't expect an answer at all even I realized. Instead she just seemed to have it and she was determined to show me that.

"Why don't ya take the seat an' I can stand?" I offered .

She shook her head before kneeling down beside me instead, tucking her feet under her to lean against me as I adjusted in the chair a bit. I folded my legs at the ankles so she could rest her head easier against my thigh. In turn I allowed my hand to wander to her deep burgundy hair as I brushed through the strands carefully.

Without words I was trying to say so much to her in return as I continued this gentle motion. Then I felt her hand slide up onto my leg as she subtlely grasped the burgundy fabric at my knee before smoothing it back into place.

Through all of our adventures thus far I couldn't recall a moment where we understood the other so much with so little. Through the doubts I had creeping up my spine still, through the distrust of our friends, through the uncertainty we may face when they found us, and through the silence of the night around us right now. Despite all of this she was still at my side. I had her trust, and with that I had her heart.

"I love ya my angel," I told her without a voice.

My heart was stricken when I heard her answer without hesitation this time, but in just as soft a tone, "I love you my thief."

With a silent smile I slid my hand to her cheek, caressing it gently over her scar.

Heart:

After an hour crept by slowly we found that Falcone still couldn't get the safe open. Duke in the meantime ran his fingers through my hair carefully while we waited.

Just then Falcone hit the safe with the palm of his hand in an outburst of frustration, "Cheap earthling junk! How can I practice my art with such inferior materials?!"

Duke and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Can't do it huh?" Duke questioned.

"I'll do it alright!" Falcone growled as he drew his saber.

Duke and I jumped up while he grabbed Falcone by the wrist, "An' set off every alarm in the country?! Let a pro take a shot at it!"

With that Duke walked over and began to work on the safe, while Falcone scoffed from behind him, "If I can't do it, you-"

Duke had it open in three seconds. I counted out of curiosity and found myself feeling quite impressed by this.

"Well I got it started," Falcone bragged.

I shook my head while rolling my eyes before refocusing on the task at hand.

As Duke went to reach for the small object inside Falcone pushed him aside. Taking it instead he looked over it in disgust.

"What the deuce?! It's nothing but this tacky piece of bricker brack!" he disgarded it in tone as well as throwing it impatiently over his shoulder.

Duke caught it just before it hit the floor, "Hey, hey, hey; this must be the key to where the sapphire's really kept!"

Then he showed it to us while explaining as he looked it over carefully, "Obviously, it's up in the clock tower. The 12 must stand for 12 o 'clock. The sun an' moon mean midnight or noon! Botta bing, botta boom baby!"

I couldn't help but be swept up in Duke's excitement as he insisted, "Whatever's up there can only be opened on midnight or noon; an' we are just in time! Oh yeah!"

Startling us both, without so much as a warning Falcone pulled out a blaster and shot it straight into the open safe. Before I could react he snickered while aiming at something above us, "Oh dear, clumsy me; I seem to have set off the alarm."

With another shot he broke the chain of a chandelier hanging above Duke, causing it to fall over him to trap him under in it's iron cast frame, pinning his arms tightly against his sides. Duke yelled out from the initial impact while struggling to get it off through with groans of pain from the weight of it.

"Duke!" I exclaimed as I drew my glaive and activated it.

Yet Falcone ignored this, taking the diamond from Duke, "I believe you have something of mine."

Duke growled in frustration in reply.

When I went to lunge at Falcone he aimed his still held blaster straight at me and scoffed.

"Don't!" Duke pleaded quickly, "Heart, step back!"

"Perhaps I should take her too?" Falcone suggested before taunting, "Prison isn't for you brat, I'd leave him if I were you. If you want a more thrilling life why not join me?"

I remained by Duke's side. Falcone gave a smirk, as though knowing this wouldn't work but not really caring either way, and turned to leave without paying me any more mind, "I don't have time for this anyway."

"By the way, when they throw you in prison, make sure to get the upper bunk, ol' boy; better view!" he laughed, "At least you'll have each other I suppose! Ta ta!"

I turned to try and help Duke out from the chandeleir still hanging over him. However my small frame made this difficult.

"Heart, get out of here!" Duke tried to tell me.

I shook my head, "I'm not leaving you! We're in this together, remember?"

Before he could answer, two guards appeared through the doorway. They looked to one another in confusion at first before laughing as they approached us. The leader of the two scoffed at the sight of Duke trapped seemingly by their own luck, "Well, looks like we've caught ourselves a pair of thieves!"

I didn't dare run. Duke and I were arrested on the spot with both our arms pulled back behind us as metal cuffs were clamped around our wrists. Then we were rather roughly pushed ahead as they lead us away and down towards what I guessed would be a prison below.

"We're gonna lock you up and throw away the key, we are!" one told us with a hearty laugh as we were escorted down a flight of stairs and along a darkened hallway.

"Yeah, that's okay; I don't really need a key, ya know?" Duke assured them as he then held up the handcuffs he'd picked.

As they looked to him as though he'd performed some sort of magic trick Duke kicked one guard to the side, knocking him out against the wall. Then the other tried to grab him, releasing me in his panic. I hopped back a bit as Duke stepped aside smoothly and latched the handcuffs around his wrist, cuffing him to the metal rail that was bolted to the wall. In this rapid commition Duke turned to me, slipping behind me as he quickly freed my wrists from their chains. After dropping the cuffs at their feet Duke took me by the hand as I heard him softly coax, "Let's go sweetheart!"

Following his lead we ran up the stairs and up towards the clock tower. Upon entering it we looked around to find Falcone climbing the ladder up to the giant clock itself. I then followed Duke's gaze to find the safe hidden behind the face of the large mechanism placed right at the 12 mark as Duke had said it would be. We then hurried over to some gears across from the safe to climb our way up.

Duke:

Together we managed to make our path up above the clock onto a ledge. Heart followed my movements with what I could only guess was instinct by this point. When we reached that ledge I hopped onto it and then offered a hand to her that she aceepted as I pulled her up.

By now Falcone had the sapphire already in his hand as he announced proudly, his voice ringing out throughout the giant clock's room, "Now I, Falcone, am the greatest thief of all!"

At that moment, I jumped down onto the downward turning gear across from him as I shouted back with contempt, "You're the greatest rat, that's for sure!"

"Really Duke? Your competitive streak is so tacky!" Falcone scoffed louldly as he swung over to me with a chain of the clock, kicking me right in the jaw before I could move and knocking me from the gear.

"Duke!" I heard Heart cry out as I was caught in between the unforgiving metal ledges of another gear that was quickly turning towards the one it locked with.

As I heared her jump down behind me I had to focus as I could feel her heart stop in fear for me, knowing she couldn't pull me up herself with her much smaller frame compared to my own. With an uneasy breath I gathered all the adrenaline I could in that moment and hoisted my legs up, flipping backwards with my upper strength to pull myself up onto the gear beside her just before the mechanism threatened to to catch me in it's grip.

With a gasp of relief Heart threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly a moment, "Duke!"

"I'm alright sweetheart!" I breathed quickly while embracing the girl before me to reassure her.

I then noticed as Falcone jumped down onto another gear that locked with ours. Then as the avian turned towards our direction he drew his saber. Seeing this I quickly got to my feet with Heart as I drew my own saber in turn and instructed her quickly and protectively, "Get behind me Heart."

As she did this we soon met with Falcone as he swung at me with his blade. Blocking his strikes, I kept him from pushing me back. Nor did I dare step to either side to keep Heart safe from harm. Then as the gear pulled us away briefly I heard Heart say to me, "Please be careful."

"Don't ya worry love," I assured her as we were brought back to the fight waiting for us.

When Falcone found I was unwilling to budge he disengaged this time to run up to another gear. He caught it's ledge to hoist himself up along with it while I gave chase. Behind me I heard Heart following.

"You'll have to do better than that!" he taunted.

"Hey don't kid yourself bub, you're still a loser!" I yelled up to him as we began trading slashes and blocking them once more.

Again I felt Heart's chest tighten with her held breath as she watched as I dodged a swipe that was meant to separate my head from my shoulders.

Heart:

When we reached the ground on the other side, Falcone turned and ran up a short flight of stairs nearby to reach a platform to escape from we guessed. Duke, however, paused before following after him as he took note of a chain that ran a path up and over where Falcone was headed. He gave me a quick nod as he grabbed a hold of it and I followed suit as we were pulled up and over. With a leap we were both in front of Falcone once again. His former rival tried to started to raise his saber in an attempt to fight again, but Duke quickly rushed up and knocked the blade out of his hand to stop this chance.

"Start talkin' Falcone, what's this all about?" Duke demanded as he stepped forward a bit with his saber pointed straight at the avian.

"The jewels are a part of a ray that will wipe out the minds of everyone on the planet!" He blurted out shakily as he backed away from Duke, who only followed him still with his saber ready.

"But wait, wait ol' buddy," he attempted hastily before declaring with greed in his eyes, "I've got it! We could double cross him! We could take the ray, and ray the richest planets in the universe!"

"Ya know, I think you've done enough double crossin' for one day Falcone!" Duke warned without giving him a chance to escape.

Falcone scoffed while turning to where his cape flowed with a bit of flare and then fell over his other arm as he pointed at himself with a prideful boast, "That's what makes me better than you! I think big!"

Suddenly he pulled his blaster out and shot repeatedly at the ground beneath Duke, causing it crumble away under his feet and dropping the drake onto a gear beneath the platform. The gear rotated backwards to try and ensare Duke in it's locking with it's partner. Duke managed to look up in time to see this and hastily began climbing in an attempt to keep this from happening.

"Duke!" I cried as I glared at Falcone while drawing my glaive and lunging at him again.

Stepping to the side quickly he dodged my attack, grabbed the base of my glaive, and yanked me forward to then grab me by the shoulder. Gripping it tightly so I couldn't attempt another swing he taunted me, "I told you to leave him! A soft hearted thief like him will only get you killed!"

"You're nothing but a coward!" I spat, "You hardly compare to him as a man and as a thief!"

His beak twisted into an angered scowl at this, and his swift response was to throw me down the flight of stairs behind us. My glaive was knocked from my hands at the initial jarring impact as I tumbled down, taking hit after hit from the steps until I landed harshly on the hard floor below. With a groan I tried to push myself up to my feet, only to feel my back buckle from the pain rushing through it. I watched in anger as Falcone fled by me with a scoff of disgust before he headed towards the exit of the tower we had come up through.

"With that ray, I will be the greatest artist in the era of crime!" He bellowed with a proud laugh to Duke, "And with you out of the way, dear boy, I'll finally be number one!"

Just as he made this proclomation he then shot at the main part of the clock, causing it to shatter. Pieces flew into each other, crashing down colliding with other gears and parts of the giant mechanism around us. Amidst all this he vanished, leaving us both there to die in the destruction he'd caused.

In this chaos I tried to push myself back up before another piece came crashing down over me. I made myself fall flast on the floor to avoid it before creeping quickly out from under it before it collapsed onto me.

Duke was soon tossed to the ground off the gear he'd landed on as it collapsed on it's self. He tried to stand up at first, quickly glanced up in time only to jump down to dodge a piece that almost collided into him. I heard him yell out as he covered his mouth with his arm to avoid pieces flying towards his face and trying to cough out the dust flying into his lungs.

"Duke!" I exclaied to see him from across the room a ways as more pieces crashed around me.

Looking to me as I called to him his remaining eye widened as he called out, "Heart, hang on, I'm comin'!"

Duke:

I watched as she in turn pushed herself up, ducking down when further pieces threatened to crash into her as she tried to get to me. In seconds we managed to get a bit closer to one another, daring to reach our hands out to the other, "Take my hand Heart!"

While we tried to grasp the other's hand another metal beam came crashing down over us, trying to seperate her and I. As it did I felt my heart leap to my throat as I looked to Heart and darted over to her, shoving her down to the floor in a roll of sorts as I swept her up with me to roll out of harm's way. When we drew to a stop I got up a bit and knelt over her now I quickly pulled her against me, tucking her head under my hand as I held her tightly with the other. As more metal flew around us I could hear and feel my suit being torn up as new scars and bruises promised to mark me for acting as her shield. Yet I found this time I didn't really mind this, and I didn't dare let her go to prove this.

"I've got ya sweetheart!" I assured her instead as she clung to me in return.

"Duke?!" she exclaimed while looking up at me.

I forced a smile as another piece collided with my right shoulder, tearing the cloth of my suit and another crash rang through the tower around us.

She noticed and tried to protest, "Duke, please don't!"

"I'll be alright, I can take a few more scars if it means you're still with me!" I swore to her.

Yet as I said this she glanced up just as another collapsing beam of wood fell over us. Seeing this she slipped her arm back behind my head just enough to pull me a little closer to her, shielding me in turn as the beam came down as I felt it nearly graze my head . Then in each other's arms we formed a tight embrace to keep one another in as everything crashed down around us still.

Heart:

After a while longer the crashing finally came to a hault. With the debris and dust settling Duke and I loosened our grip on one another, looking over each other to make sure we weren't hurt. I noticed that Duke's stealthsuit now had a few torn pieces here and there, and he would have some new bruises, but he assured me still, "It was worth it, believe me Heart."

Duke then started to push away the ruble that had landed over our heads, but had piled in a way that had kept it from giving in. Now sore from the impacts he'd taken during this and the fight, Duke shoved the beams out of the way and then offered a hand to me. Taking it he hoisted me up through the opeing he'd made. Then he followed along side of me as I climbed up, pulling himself up and over until he was steadily on the floor. With his feet on a steady surface again he looked up and helped me down as well. In his remaining eye I could see a touch of relief when I was standing safely beside him.

With that I retrieved my glaive and we hurried outside to see Falcone taking off in his ship, and with the completed ray inside of it.

Then looking ahead Dukeand I then noticedm to our shared relief, Wildwing, Mallory, and Grin about to enter the room with the safe from earlier.

"Yo Wildwing! Wait up!" Duke called out to them as we caught up.

"Duke? Heart?! What's going on?!" Wildwing exclaimed, surprised to see us running up to them.

In a harsh, almost angry, tone our leader looked over the two of us with a cautious glare and questioned, "Well, have you two changed sides or what?"

"Hey, of course not!" Duke snapped with his hands balled into fists at his sides, before informing them, "But we had to make him think we did, to find out what Dragonus is up to."

"Speaking of which," Grin started as Duke looked up at him with a lingering air of frustration, "What is Dragonus up to?"

"That ship is equipped with some kind of mind wipe ray! We've gotta take it down!" Duke explained quickly while pointing out the ship we had flown in on now soaring away.

"We are on it!" Tanya assured over our coms.

With that she and Nosedive followed Falcone with the Aerowing.

While we waited Duke explained his plan to Wildwing and the others. As he did I could see Mallory's face twisting from concern and into a blend of anger as she exclaimed, "She almost ended up in prison because of you and your reckless plan!"

"Do ya really think I was goin' to let that happen to her?!" Duke started with frustration still in his voice that resonated with me.

"I don't know! You've been keeping to yourself through all of this, stealing gems with your old buddy, and you took her along with you, putting her in danger when you claim to love her, and you don't tell anyone else about this plan of yours?!" Mallory pushed.

Everything I knew about Duke from the time I'd met him and up to this moment suddenly rushed through my head, reminding me exactly why it was I took a rather defensive step forward, standing between him and everyone else that I cared for right then. Looking to the drake beside me I took in all of the tears in his suit, as well as the injuries he'd suffered throuhout the night, and watching the doubt he was facing now as he tried to confront them and assure them, knowing they were going to react this way. With all of this something in me snapped and my own frustration on his behalf boiled to the surface, "I stayed with Duke because I trust him! After all of this time you suddenly doubt him now?!"

Everyone there, even Duke, was quite stunned by my outburst. It was no secret that I had never spoken out against any of them before. Then again perhaps that was why I did in this moment. As far as I was concerned there was no reason for me to have to.

Yet I found myself having to as I stood firmly defending him, "Duke has never given us any reason to believe he would suddenly switch sides! He's proven that and so much more again tonight whether you supported him or not! If he had told you his plan before would you have even believed him with how you were accusing him?! He didn't tell me and I knew I had nothing to worry about!"

I'd managed not to falter while saying all of this in the rather angry tone that I had, and I still didn't when I turned back to Duke, who was quite speechless by this point. I then attempted to assure him in a much softer tone, "I still know that Duke, at least when it comes to you."

I then glanced at Mallory and saw that her blue eyes were still widened from shock. Then easing into a softer expression as she attempted to answer, "Heart? I-"

Yet she would be interrupted by Falcone's quite sudden screaming of panic as he came plummeting down from his ship high in the night sky. Duke quickly hurried over to the ledge and shot out his grappling hook to have it wrap around a gargoyle perched high above us on a ledge. Then he swung himself over to the falling avian and caught him right out of the air.

"Oh Duke, thank Heavens! I always knew you were the best, the rich, the cream, the -!"

"Aw, shut up!" I heard Duke tell him in irritation as they swooped around the corner of the tower while I hurried over to the ledge.

Just then we heard the rope snap and both of them began to fall now, down into the moat of the clock tower a good bit below at the base floor from where we stood.

"Duke!" I cried as they crashed into the water.

I then found I was holding my breath, my heart about stopped, as I looked on waiting for any sign that he was okay. Suddenly my heart leapt to my throat as they both resurfaced. Duke in particular came up coughing out a mouthful of water. Then while still gasping for air he looked up and locked eyes with me a moment.

Not waiting a second I darted towards the nearby stairs, pushing by and darting between guards to hurry down to the base floor. Upon reaching it I looked around quickly until I found the side of the moat they were climbing out from. As soon as I saw them, or rather him, trying to pull his sore body up from the water I couldn't help but rush over to him, "Duke!"

"Heart?" He coughed while looking up from half over the edge just as I threw my arms around him, "Woah...! Easy sweetheart!"

"I was scared I'd lost you!" I cried softly into his shoulder.

A few guards were running over as Duke pulled himself over the rest of the way while dragging a reluctant Falcone with him. To our relief they had heard what had happened from the others still on the top floor relaying everything to the captain. So it was only Falcone they were arresting. This I watched with some contempt lingering in me. Yet this quickly washed away when Duke gently grabbed for my hand, pulling my attention back to him.

In this moment looking up at him I knew I was finally getting to see the drake I loved for all that he was. The soft smile on his beak tried to tell me so much without a word even attempted with it. In these few seconds I understood, as he remained firmly standing before me with tears, bruises, and scars, that he was no longer trying to hide from me. Not who he was in the past or now, or any side of him he'd thought would turn me away from him. My answer to this, and the answer I'd promised to give him when we'd started out this night together, was given when I wrapped my arms around his lean frame as I promised him, "I love you."

He held me just as close now, "I love ya too Heart."

With that he pulled away just slightly and leaned towards me to share a kiss with me.

When we finally stepped back a bit from each other it registered we were both soaking wet from me holding onto him. Though the guards nearby seemed to have taken note of us before we did and were bringing us each a red coat to wear and stay warm in as an apology for before.

The captain then watched in a bit of surprise as I helped Duke pull his coat closed once he'd put it on. He gave a chuckle as he spoke to the dark feathered drake, "A lucky man you are, to have a love so loyal to you."

Duke:

"There's no greater treasure out there," I said with a smile and a nod before glancing at the young lady standing with me.

The captain then stepped away to assist with escorting Falcone to his cell. While I turned to Heart and brushed some of her now wet hair out of her eyes with my gloved hand. With a smile I said to her, "An' I've seen my fair share of treasure in my past to know this without a doubt."

Watching her blush in that moment was enough to warm my heart from the cold water still clinging to my suit and feathers.

Heart:

We then both took a seat against the short wall of the moat to try. As we did I noticed again just how sore Duke was after everything. I started to lean my head against his shoulder to try and show my support somehow when I noticed our teammates at the steps I'd run down from. In response I got to my feet to stand at his side while he looked at the ground with worry blending in his eye. In an attempt to ease some of this I rested a gentle hand on his tensing up right shoulder. I refused to step back from him right now. For the moment he smiled still at first glancing at me. Yet as we heard our teammates running over to us all together we both seemed to share in his concern that washed over us both now. None the less I refused to step away from him.

Instead we looked to our teammates as they all stopped just a few feet in front of us.

"Duke," Wildwing approached carefully while looking to us with regret, and even worry, showing through the eyes of his mask, "We all owe you an apology!"

"Especially me, I should never have doubted you," Mallory said while ringing her hands together nervously as she looked almost ashamed to look him in the eye at first.

She then glanced at me with an understanding nod that then shifted to a proud smile.

"You have made peace with your past, and so have we," Grin assured him.

"Well, I was kinda hurt," Duke admitted as he got to his feet with a bit of a shrug.

Then he laughed rather good naturedly while gesturing everyone to gather around us, "But hey! I could never stay mad at you guys for very long! Come here, group hug!"

While everyone gave in to this request in a wave of relief, Duke smoothly pulled me against his lean frame, tucking me into the group hug we were all gathered in now beside him.

"Oh great, group hugs are so fun!" Dive moaned with full sarcasm as we were all pulled in.

While amongst everyone like this I suddenly heard Duke snicker in his throat, just barely loud enough for me to hear, and I glanced up to find a mischevious smirk curving his beak and a gleam in his eye. This only made me curious as I watched to see what was the cause of this.

"Okay, that's about enough," Dive insisted as everyone pulled away and started to walk towards the Aerowing.

Except for Duke and me.

For I was quickly noticing that Wildwing's blaster gauntlet was missing from his arm, as well as Tanya's omnitool and other weapons they had just been carrying. I quickly looked to Duke in disbelief. He only placed a finger playfully over my lips with a smirk over his beak still. I couldn't help but smile at this in return, only encouraging him further as I stifled a giggle.

"Now we can store our gear and, HEY!" Mallory yelled when she couldn't feel her puck blaster resting against her back as normal, "Where is our gear?!"

"What the-?" Dive exclaimed in confusion when he found his blaster missing as well.

They immiediately all turned around to face us. A stern expression crossed Wildwing's face as he directed it at the drake beside me, "Duke?"

Duke coughed out a bit of a laugh emerging from his throat. Then he opened his cloak slightly with a smooth smile on his beak as he let Dive's puck blaster fall to the ground.

"And the rest of 'em," Wildwing ordered before Duke let the rest of their gear fall into a heap at his feet.

"Very funny," Mallory scolded as they walked over to retrieve their weapons.

I couldn't help but laugh now; while Duke looked over at me with a charm touching that smirk of his before it softened into a full on smile.

Then he gestured for me to follow alongside him as we walked around everyone gathering their belongings and headed over to the Aerowing.

"Hey, I gotta keep my skills sharp, right?" Duke asked with a playful shrug.

I couldn't help but smile as I walked up to Duke, catching him by the arm to hold onto as I answered, "Right!"

Once more he looked at me with a smile, but one that was a bit different in nature this time. Rather than his usual confidence or charm, I found relief as well now. Then he pulled me close against him by slipping that arm out of my grip and running it along my back and shoulders.

Inside the Aerowing while we waited for the others, the events from the night to began to settle in our heads. He ran his hand along the side of his feathered head and a bit of through his hair with a sigh escaping his throat. As he looked over me he said in a quiet voice, "Thank you Heart, jus'...for everythin' with this one."

Without a second thought I admitted to him, "I think this one is my favorite."

His eye widened with surprise now, he asked, "Really? A year worth of adventures an' this one is your favorite one?"

I nodded my head without a doubt in my mind.

Duke:

Still a bit surprised by this I wasn't sure what to say to her. We had faced more than a monster or run of the mill foe. As I had feared my past had tried to catch up with me. Our friends, her own brothers among them, had questioned us every step of the way. Even with forgiveness setting in I knew it had been trying for her to confront them as she did. Despite everything we'd been through before now, I'd never guessed she would done that for...for me? Why did this still surprise me after nearly a year with her?

So for her to stand there and say this adventure was her favorite struck my very core.

"Why?" I asked her as though I just couldn't believe it.

"I was able to see you without a part of you trying to hide away," she answered, "Since we met, I knew there was a side of you that you tried to keep tucked away and I never understood why. In a way...I think I've found my answer..."

"What's that sweetheart?" I inquired.

"You've changed, but you also haven't. Thief or not, your skills haven't dulled, your sense of a code has remained intact, and who you are at your core has not shifted. Tonight you allowed me to see this by showing me who you were and who you are now at the same time. You're still the drake that had the compassion to try and save a stranger, risking a lot to do so. You just have a different drive than what you had before," she answered, unknowingly causing my heart to soften upon hearing this.

"I love you..." she hesitated at the last part she wanted to say, I supposed a bit nervous of how I would react this time to it.

She looked over me standing before her in my stealthsuit still. I couldn't help but notice her blushing a little with that curiosity I had seen earlier this night returning to her eyes. Taking a slight step back from her all I could think to do was bow politely to her with my hand over my heart, "I am honored to hold that heart of yours as your thief my love."

In this one moment that word that I dreaded hearing from the others suddenly transformed into one she adored in an instant. As I stood before her again I was barely able to steady myself as she threw her arms around me. In return I wrapped my arms around her as I felt the linering unease from my past finally wash away.

"I love ya," I breathed while embracing her as tight as I could while I felt her do the same for me.

Before long the others had joined us and we were heading home. With the tension finally gone and everyone talking as we typically would I allowed myself to sink back into my chair abit as the bruises I'd gotten began to make themselves known. Though it was easy enough to ignore this as I listened to everyone quietly. Even Heart and Mallory exchanged a brief conversation as we flew through the sky towards Anaheim. Eventually though, as we neared the sleeping city, I noticed as Heart began to drift off to sleep, content to see everyone acting as a team once again before she closed her eyes.

Seeing this I got up from my seat and draped my now dry coat over her as a blanket. Then I gently brushed her hair away from her eyes, gently tucking the strands behind her ear.

"I feel she made peace with your past even before you did Duke," Grin mentioned quietly when he saw me doing this.

"I never thought I'd see the day where she confronted everyone like that. I was worried she would feel torn or caught in the middle, but she never seemed to."

"Duke, are you really that surprised?" Nosedive questioned with a light laugh, "This is the girl that never batted so much as an eyelash when she first saw us."

"Now that ya mention it, it really is how she has been when it comes to our team as a whole," I mentioned, "But she's also attached to everyone because of that...so this was..."

"This was not so different," Grin insisted, "She knew there was no reason to doubt you and so acted upon that."

"From ya told me you didn't doubt me either," I pointed out.

"Perhaps not; but Heart was the one that stood at your side and then even between us," Grin mentioned firmly.

I glanced at Wildwing who had heard this and sighed, "That she did, and I am actually quite proud of her for it."

Hearing this I couldn't help but give a soft smile as I looked over her sleeping form, "How did I get to be so lucky?"

I then thought back to the night I had first seen her. The moment she now knew about, and how she had responded when learning of it. With that I had my answer.

Once we arrived home I carefully lifted Heart out of her seat and carried her to our room as she dreamed still.

However, as I set her upon and turned to dress out of my stealthsuit I heard a soft gasp. When I turned slightly to make sure she was okay I would find myself looking into her sapphire eyes as she gazed up at me wide awake.

"Ya know sweetheart," I laughed softly while sitting beside her on the bed as she sat up, "You might be quite the skilled thief yourself."

"How so?" She asked.

"Ya stole somethin' from me not long after we met I think. Even when I was hidin' that side of myself from the others, I always felt I could share some of it with ya. When we would meet up late at night, or when ya trusted me to adventure through the city with ya." I admitted to her, "Each time you took another piece of it from me."

Those eyes of hers now held bewilderment as she asked me, "What could I have stolen from you?"

I smiled as I leaned close to her, caressing her cheek as I answered softly, "Ya stole my heart darlin', an' without even tryin'."

I watched as she blushed deeply once more, and somehow even more still when I told her, "Ya know I would have given it to ya if you had simply asked me."

"I could say the same to you Duke," she assured me before attempting softly, "My thief?"

When she said it I felt a certain skip in my chest I'd never imagined would ever come from hearing that word. Suddenly being called her thief filled me with pride that only strengthened when I heard it said with such deep affection in her voice and in those eyes as she said it. Not only that, but I had caught the request of it in her tone, as though wondering if this was something I wanted to hear.

"Of course love," I promised her while caressing her cheek, admiring how much she blushed now.

Then I assured her while pulling her close to me, "Though I will admit, that your heart, darlin', the one thing in my life I didn't have to steal; an' that's why I cherish it so much Heart."

"Though if me bein' your thief is what makes ya blush like that, then who am I to argue?" I then couldn't help but tease her before pulling back just slightly and slipping a hand to her chin to tilt it up gently to see her cheeks matching her hair.

With that I leaned in close to her and tilted my head so I could kiss her. As I did I felt her lean deeply into this shared affection as she gripped my stealth suit over my heart and at my shoulder. While I in turn leaned back against the bedframe now, pulling her slowly down onto me as she kissed me in reutn now. Then with the lights dimmed in the room, I simply held her close to me to still. After everything that had happened all I wanted was to hold her like this. All I ever needed to know from this point on was that I had her trust along with her heart. My past no longer haunted me knowing that she was my present as well as my future.

"I love ya so much my angel," I whispered to her as she rested her head over my heart to listen to it beating.

As she held onto still I smiled, and embraced her with all my strength, when I heard her say once more that night, "I love you my thief."