Partners In Crime

Partners In Crime - A Prisoner's Escape

Los Angeles - Home of the Crimson Paw - 9PM

As moonlight shines through the glistening windows of Diane's seemingly unassuming suburban bungalow all the while she's busy hammering away with her paws cramping as she's signing documents for city-related endeavours, Mr. Wolf finds himself with the dilemma of finding something nice to watch whilst his takeaway pizza loses its steam under his muzzle.

With the glow of the sixty-inch flatscreen TV illuminating his eyes for the first time in a year, a massive upgrade in luxury from the TV he and his crew used to hover over, part of his curious mind is still wondering if crime lives on throughout the city. Unfortunately for him, everything had seemingly been commercialised in the past year and this was providing him with some frustration as he smashed down the TV remote onto Diane's oak-wood coffee table and leant back into her red leather couch with a sigh leaving his esophagus.

"Awh, Wolfie..." Diane immediately felt her ginger ears shoot up as she wore nothing but her undershirt as well as grey slacks to complete her outfit, with her paws contained within tiny cotton socks. "Settling back into civilian life is proving its difficulties to you, isn't it? What's on your mind, honey?" Diane was assuming that Wolf was getting frustrated thanks to thoughts on his mind but his anger was boiling thanks to something far less dramatic.

"Ah, apologies for interrupting your work, my sweet... It's nothing, really," Wolf was attempting his best to hold back his anger before he jumped to his feet in comical fashion before pointing at the TV. "No, it is something... Why isn't there anything good for a guy to watch on TV? We had something in prison although it was basic and the same fifteen shows but those fifteen shows were worth it compared to the reality TV garbage that's presented to us nowadays! Since when did documentaries for every single person exist and why does everything have to be so dramatic?" Wolf gazed at the TV with intent all the while Diane placed her paw on her hip, turned her gaze towards Wolf's beady brown eyes and pouted.

"You know, if I didn't recognise your voice, I'd say you're sounding quite like Mr. Snake right now~" Diane teased Wolf as he turned his head, lowered his ears and softly scowled at her. "Okay Wolfie, no need to be so pensive about everything. I do realise that- hm- now that I think about it, you kind of have a point about everything being more dramatic. It's almost like Professor Marmalade's act of turning a criminal syndicate into a bunch of sheep-skin wearing panzies really did something to the world," Diane turned back to the work she was in the process of reading and signing, flipping down her trademark glasses as Wolf's reflection briefly lit up the inside of her glasses.

"I won't lie, if there's one thing I fear more than being unemployed or perhaps turning back to crime after doing the time; it's the fact that I might end up walking outside with a bunch of people offering to pay me to talk about my life... What's it called, a podcast? Since when did people listen to those?" Wolf flipped through the TV stations before finding a button which connected to an online streaming service Foxington was subscribed to. "Oh... Well this fixes everything! Woah! They've got my favourites!"

"And would you look at that... You'd be surprised that during a year of absence and not having things stolen from them, society managed to find a way to innovate undisturbed," Diane sassed Wolf back all the while he nervously chuckled. "Hm... That's odd," Foxington gazed down at the paper she was currently getting ready to sign. "The president of the United States is inquiring to approve of a surveillance system that will ensure the former Bad Guys will adhere to their community service..?" Diane took off her glasses, cleaned them with her blazer and gazed back at the document all the while Wolf silently crept closer.

"Community service? I thought we were released with all of our freedoms- with the exception of Mr. Snake," Diane and Wolf exchanged mutually assured gazes which told their story in an instant. "Yep... With that many rodent prisoners, I knew it would happen eventually; anyways, what are the clauses and can we be sure that's a real document?" Wolf pointed towards the signature as well as the presidential seal to spot any oddities whilst Diane just spun around her pen, warmly smiled and leaned back in the chair before reaching into her drawer for a special surprise.

"I'm beginning to think you like winding me up by underestimating my power, my favourite ex-crook," Foxington proceeded to whip out a massive stamp with red ink staining the bottom. "As the governor of one of the most prosperous states in America, I have permission to reject anything I see fit... Regardless of who asked for it," Diane proceeded to slap the stamp into the signature box which is where a massive "[REJECTED]" stamp soon filled the place that would've been her signature.

"So you're telling me you can reject the requests of the president if you don't approve of them?" Foxington nodded in response to Wolf's question. "That's... Undeniably badass. Are there any more surprises I should know about?"

"I own this property and I am the landlady-"

"WHAT? THAT'S LIKE- IMPOSSIBLE IN THIS COUNTRY!" Wolf was flabbergasted all the while Foxington couldn't resist letting off a sly chuckle.

"Oh... I can also technically commandeer any civilian vehicle so long as nobody occupies it... I can essentially steal without committing a crime if I need to get to a place in an instant and your car or my reinforced limousine isn't around," Diane twiddled her pen between her paws, signed a few more documents as she slid them into folders before lifting herself up from her creaky wooden seat. "I think it's time I stop bragging so much and actually... Lift up your jaw there so we can sit down and chill out for your first true night of being a liberated criminal!"

"EX-criminal! Can't forget the ex!"

"No one seems to forget their ex, except for me considering I never had a dating life before you came along and changed my life for the better," Diane's extremely sharp wit alongside sentimental attitude would lead to her needing to close Mr Wolf's muzzle for a second time as she hopped onto the red leather couch alongside him, got comfortable by snuggling up next to him all whilst she went back to the news station. "I wonder how the world is reacting to the biggest, baddest and meanest gang of self-loathing, egotistical and narcissistic criminals there were to exist," With a singular click, Foxington amazed her Wolfie one final time by switching the remote to the news channel with a single click as the glow of the TV lit up the pair of them and they prepared to relax with Tiffany Fluffit catching their attention.

"What's up! Tiffany Fluffit here bringing you the final news recap of the evening for all of you folks at home eager to get to bed and start your day fresh!" Tiffany's voice caught the attention of the anthropomorphic couple as Diane waited in anticipation in a relaxed stance whilst Wolf keenly gazed into the flat screen TV in a contrast of attitude. "The biggest headline for today happens to be Diane Foxington addressing the public before the former Bad Guys were set free from prison and due to settle into their civilian lives once more! A year today, The Bad Guys- if we can even call them that anymore, turned themselves over to the legal system in a selfless act that would cement their legacy as the crooks gone good whilst defiling The Crimson Paw's plan to steal the money that was raised in his name!" Tiffany's face was briefly replaced by a broadcast of Diane speaking on the podium in front of a cheering audience all the while she wore a warming smile that spread across her muzzle.

"Hah... That's pretty ironic how he got framed as the Crimson Paw... I never anticipated that happening when we all know who the true conductor of madness is- I'd say labelling Marmalade as the Crimson Paw is boosting his reputation a little much considering what he truly was... And that happened to be a selfish beehive beater!" Wolf nudged Foxington all the while she let off a slight chuckle.

"Either way, it's credit that's fallen upon his shoulders... Although I bet you wonder what I stole at times, isn't that so?" Diane put her ears back all the while teasing Wolf with her raised eyebrows and sassy glare. "Don't tell me that the entire time you were locked inside of that prison cell, you never wandered as to the nature of your Crimson Paw's legacy and what she stole... The motives behind them, hm? - I thought you got tired of lying!" Wolf cracked an angsty laugh in response to Diane's question and accusation all the while he slyly turned up the volume using Foxington's lavishly red TV remote.

"I mean, it beats me how much you got away with whilst avoiding the eyes of the law or the responsibility that comes with it but who said I never wandered about the motives, hm? Perhaps this is something we can bond over with pizza shared between us?" Wolf picked up a slice of pizza as Foxington nodded, following her lover's gesture as they both slapped their slices of pepperoni pizza against one another. "To freedom, to learning all of the secrets of the Crimson Paw and to returning to a relatively normal life!" Wolf toasted and they soon shoved the pizza in their mouths, focusing their attention back at the TV colliding with their gazes.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it was two years ago that a meteorite struck down part of our city, leaving a hole in our hearts as well as a subsequent opportunity for those responsible for crime. Yet a year on this day, The Bad Guys turned themselves into custody of law enforcement in an unexpected turn as they sought to dismantle Professor Marmalade's plan to use the Love Crater Meteorite to do harm against the population of Los Angeles," The TV started replaying Diane's speech that she held a mere hour before heading to the penitentiary in which The Bad Guys were being held. "Yet it is with great honour, responsibility as well as a gleam in my eyes to announce to you all that The Bad Guys are being set free on this day due to their exceptionally good behaviour inside of prison and they are being set free without community service! - Except for Mr. Snake... I still feel bad for that prisoner," Diane waved at the press as she was photographed many times, stunned as everyone held microphones up to her muzzle in the replay.

"Ms. Foxington, do you have anything to share regarding your relationship with Mr. Wolf?" As a reporter was shown asking Foxington about her budding relationship with her partner in crime, Diane and Wolf looked at one another and exchanged mutual glares as both weren't expecting this to be worthy of one of the news station's highlight reels.

"I would have to state that this has nothing to do with the matter at hand and that physical bonds between humans and animals based on admiration, attraction and compassion form without much relation to the past that being possesses. My relationship with Mr. Wolf is indeed romantic but this does not affect my judgement on a professional level, plus I am not responsible for setting them free; merely announcing that Mr. Wolf alongside the rest of his crew, have earned their way out of prison through goodwill," Diane shut down the reporter's question as she was captioned pointing towards another member of the press. "Does anyone have any questions relevant to the topic at hand?"

"Do you have any idea what this could entail for the fate of the city? We've been at peace for a year and with these criminals being released from prison, is there a chance that many people may draw inspiration from their work and attempt to hire them? Furthermore, do you know anything about what they plan on doing in the future if they are reunited as a pack of thieves?" Diane drew distaste from the question on the replay as she grit her teeth on the screen as she did in person.

"We have unfortunately not been solely at peace for a year. We have had our fair share of bandits rise up from the ashes of the forsaken as well as those who have turned to petty crime to sustain themselves but I assure you that The Bad Guys, if we can call them that, are not going to return to their previous ways of thievery. I find it relatively condescending that after their sacrifice, you've decided to show them little regard and although that opinion may be personal, we are all capable of holding opinions and this happens to be my own. You must look at them beyond their thievery... They're still a group of animals and just like a friend group of humans, they are inseparable... Next?" At that moment, before Diane could have a chance to react to the next question that she remembered being asked, the TV screen cut back to Tiffany Fluffit's commentary.

"So... Hold on... Lemme finish chewing this pizza slice-" Mr. Wolf held up his paw for a moment as he chowed down on his pizza slice, finishing it as Foxington merely placed her half-eaten slice back into the box whilst eyeing up her canine lover. "You're telling me you answered like six questions of importance before driving back to this very place to grab the new car you had reconditioned and they decided to pick those two questions to air for their highlight reel?" Wolf let off a sigh as Diane merely shrugged whilst leaning back into her seat, uncrossing her legs as she further snuggled up with her canine companion.

"What can I say? In the realm of politics, people tend to look towards something that's the most controversial or most likely to invite speculation into the minds of everyone watching instead of showing the truthful answers that'll give people some ease. It's all about fear when it comes to politics and although I feel as if I'm making a difference as governor... There's only so much good I can do until people will start trying to connect the crafty fox to the Crimson Paw," Foxington let off an exhale filled with irritation as she felt her ears melting into Wolf's side. "Besides, if there's one question I would like to ask... What on earth did the rest of the gang get up to? I know you keep more tabs on them than I ever will and I happen to be the governor," Wolf, however, wasn't going to blow over Diane's self-doubt so easily.

"Hey, I may not be the smartest wolf in the pack but I can successfully say this... You, Diane, have certainly made a difference in this city- a positive one, too," Mr. Wolf slyly slipped off his jade-encrusted golden ring and placed it around Diane's ring finger. "You've certainly given this criminal a second chance to steal a heart instead of some jewellery, that's for sure!"

"Alright, now you're just showboating~"

"Isn't that what you fell in love with me for? I mean, beyond all of the attraction, there's always that slightly more confident and cocky side that managed to lure you in, huh?" Diane visibly blushed thanks to Wolf's comment as she wasn't expecting him to unleash some of his charisma onto her so quickly. "I'm just messing around with ya! What can I say, I'm the luckiest wolf on planet earth to have you by my side and the fact that you were an ambassador for my release as well as listened to..." Wolf visibly cringed as he felt his tail go from softly wagging to stiff. "Professor Marmalade's advice about that whole flower of goodness shtick he was speaking about really shows how compassionate and considerate you are as a fox, as an animal and as you... I see a tricky fox within you but that tricky fox is ensuring she uses all means necessary to get rid of any shady business occurring in our state and city!" Wolf had successfully launched a charm offensive against Diane as she sat there whilst staring at him, mouth agape and her eyes twinkling to go along with how truly awestruck she was.

"Besides, if you really wanna know what the crew are up to then..." Wolf suddenly pulls out his phone and started scrolling through his contacts as well as a super-secret group chat that Foxington wasn't supposed to know about. "Mr. Shark got hired as a comedian for his ingenious acts of being able to portray a thousand faces whilst also impersonating their voices and making up funny jokes as he goes along. Mr. Snake got hired as a magician's assistant considering there aren't many jobs that'll hire a guy doing community service. Ms. Tarantula or Webs was approved to work as a software engineering company and has actually begun her shift already and as for Mr Piranha..? He's kind of gone off the grid for now but we'll see where he ends up in a few days time. As for me..? I have no clue what my future entails considering I have no clue what I am doing out here but I can see it being filled with a lot of potential thanks to having you by my side," Mr Wolf kindly took Diane's paw and slid off his jade ring, snapping to seemingly reveal a ruby ring as he slid it around Diane's ring finger whilst bringing his jade-encrusted ring around his own paw.

"Awh!~ Since when were you this sentimental, hm?" Foxington attempted to hide her blush by covering her muzzle whilst continuing to peer at the TV, unwilling to bolster Wolf's ego further by glaring into his beady brown eyes.

"Hey, I'm a quick learner and I'd only learn it from the best~" Wolf made sure to gaze into Diane's eyes before bestowing a soothing kiss on the side of her ginger muzzle, further prompting her blush to spread across her face as a mildly crimson highway of emotions invaded her face. "Now, I think it's time we finally find something to watch and... Hold on a minute- what's happening on TV?" And at that moment, Foxington internally facepalmed as well as screamed when in the seconds she had averted her gaze from the screen as Mr Wolf's charm got the better of her, she suddenly found herself attempting to make sense of the situation as Tiffany Fluffit scrambled to the nearest seat and table in the studio with panic lining her face.

"Breaking news! It appears Professor Marmalade has escaped prison through an intricate system of tunnels and isn't to be found! This investigation is still ongoing but it appears he or an associate has tunnelled underneath the sea floor itself to provide an escape route from the island onto the mainland and he is nowhere to be found! Authorities estimate he has been at large for roughly ten hours, for that is when activity inside of his usually bustling prison cell ceased! - Tiffany Fluffit here bringing you the evening recap!" After Tiffany finished with her panicked recap, a wanted poster flashed on screen with a million dollar bounty placed over Marmalade's head for capture or reimprisonment from the authorities.

Mr. Wolf and Foxington both gazed into one another's eyes with their jaws agape all the while Wolf gently closed the pizza box situated on their coffee table. Both of them shook their heads, gazed around them for a brief moment as Diane reached for the TV remote and rewound what was currently being presented.

"That's impossible... Agh, fudge on a crumpet- I know how he escaped," Foxington facepalmed as she grabbed Wolf's paw and started luring him away from the TV. "I dug a tunnel of explosives to the prison whilst busting you out and that's how everything surrounding the island exploded. They must've reconstructed the island as well as the prison facility when they were transferring Marmalade but forgot about the tunnel I dug underneath the seaboard and with Marmalade's recent cell transfer-"

"Marmalade used the tunnel that was formed when you detonated those explosions to power out of prison and exploited the weaknesses of the seafloor to presumably do it undetected!" Wolf experienced a eureka moment as he was soon thrust into the secret compartment that guided him down to the ex-Crimson Paw's lair all the while the elevator rumbled around him. "Hey, did they ever apprehend the guy working for him..? I think his name was Kerfluffle, Coddle or Cuddles; something along those lines..." Wolf pondered for a second as Foxington clapped her paws together before thrusting her head into the wall.

"I KNEW IT! THEY WERE MISSING SOMEONE! I completely forgot that- ugh! I forgot he had a minion working for him, he might've slipped out of that whole arrest gambit undetected!" Foxington huffed all the while she briefly lost her composure, pinched her nose and then ripped a hole into Wolf's soul with her gazing. "Remember, you heard nothing about me being uncomposed or missing out on an arrest. If you really want to pin the blame on someone, blame Chief Luggins, she was the one in charge of that arrest and turning you in," Diane's elevator doors opened up to reveal the unfolding walls as well as the elevating desk she had become synonymous with using. Meanwhile, Mr. Wolf amused himself by further gazing at Diane Foxington's spy-like contraptions.

"I hate to say this at a not-so-appropriate time but were you a spy in a previous life or before you became the tricky fox known as the Crimson Paw..? Why on earth is there a wall dedicated to outfits and underwear?" Wolf curiously investigated Diane's makeshift outfit closet until she comically appeared from in front of him, stared him down and soon made him recoil as she got on her tip-toes to gain a height advantage.

"Oh, wouldn't you like to know why I have an outfit closet and underwear down here," Diane was on the verge of flirting with her canine companion when she shook her head and soon sprinted over to her desk. "I'm getting carried away! Is there any chance you can contact your crewmates whilst I track down Professor Marmalade's location and see if there's any suspicious activity going down in the city?" Foxington rapidly pressed her paw up against her touch-controlled planning station as she tapped into CCTV footage of the prison and every single cell.

"Shark's currently at a comedy booth for his first act, Snake's currently learning how to perfect his magical craft... I can't tell where Piranha is ever since you dropped him off at that arcade and Webs happens to be working hard on-"

*BZZ BZZ*

*BEEP*

"Hello?" Wolf picked up the call that had presumably come from Webs at that moment.

"WOLFIE! Have you seen the news? Professor Marmalade's escaped from prison!" Webs was screaming down her earpiece at the time, startling her fellow workers all the while Diane smirked in the distance as she further tracked down CCTV footage. "I've already tapped into the CCTV systems and can also see the governor is here, you won't find anything. Whoever assisted him was using an electromagnetic scrambling system to mess with the CCTV footage and you'll see that as he presumably emerges from his place in the city. He comes up from some sort of sewer system yet the CCTV footage freezes for like twenty minutes at roughly 14:30 and comes online again at 14:31 at a completely different spot in time-"

"Aha! Thank you for the information, Webs! Myself and Foxington are currently on it at the moment, but at least we have a point to seek to. Diane! Search CCTV cameras from 14:31 onwards, see if you can pin together a trail of disruption that leads us to that sly guinea pig's location!" Wolf was practically shouting at Foxington, who recoiled in response as he continued to talk to Webs on the phone. "Webs, we could use your assistance with tracking him down with disruption patterns, too... Also, for my sake, I need you to get hold of the rest of the gang. They seem to be a little preoccupied and we need Piranha's location pronto!" Wolf issued his orders and could suddenly hear some mechanical clicking coming through Webs' phone.

"Snake didn't bring his phone with him, Shark has his on silent mode... I can probably change that but I should be able to track down Piranha fairly quickly considering whenever he gets put inside of an arcade, he tends to never leave it unless something big happens. I've gotta get going as I still have work to do but I promise to be with you with the crew the next morning! I recommend you search-"

"Aha! The old compound! The trail of disruption is leading to his old compound but what's he there to do? That compound was walled off and never repaired considering the risks that had to do with the exploded meteorite and the fragments it left behind!" Foxington seemingly pieced it together as Wolf rushed up to Foxington's massive screen and observed the pattern she had produced.

"Seems like you've got the jist of it! Bye Wolfie!" Webs hung up the phone promptly thereafter and Wolf slid his phone onto the control panel for he knew he was going to be changing into a familiar latex suit and soon pursuing the ghastly guinea pig that was Professor Marmalade.

"That's just a vague direction, we can't prove if he or anyone else has been there recently as those cameras just lead out of the city... I don't see any disruption on the CCTV camera there, either... Wait a minute, I swear it's darker outside than it is on that camera," Wolf reached forward and soon zoomed in using his paw to have a look at the surroundings and attempt to remotely control the camera. "That's strange... It's not moving when I command it to," He scratched the behind of his ear all the while Foxington leaned in, tilted her head and experienced an epiphany with the radiant glow of the camera's perspective and her amber wall of extravagant technology reflecting against her suit.

"That's because Professor Marmalade and his accomplice must be at the sight of the compound... But what are they doing there?" Foxington pondered all the while Wolf stared intently at the image and noticed some mild disruption in the corners of the camera's display feed.

"You mentioned no scientists were allowed on the premises considering the elements left behind thanks to the fragments of the meteorite and how we both know the city has gently lowered down security at the remnants of the compound so I'm guessing... Oh!" Foxington and Wolf exchanged mutual gazes all the while they leaned in close to one another, practically feeling the humid breaths emitted from one another's noses at that moment.

"He's trying to salvage the remains of the meteorite!" Both of them cheered at the same time all the while both of them soon leant back with casual expressions on their faces.

"You know, that was an extremely adorable thing that we did just there, heheh~" Wolf let off a little chuckle all the while Foxington leaned in close before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"You're damn right it was but unfortunately we've got to leave the sentiment behind as it's time for business!" Diane inexplicably ripped off her business suit and soon revealed a latex suit beneath her attire which stunned Mr. Wolf. "Put on your cleanest pair of underwear so they don't rip, it's time for us to perform a real heist for good!" Foxington's moment was ruined when Wolf leaned into his paw with his muzzle, scratched it all the while an infectious smile spread across his muzzle.

"So you just keep a latex suit beneath your suit when you're doing something seemingly important? What else should I know?" Wolf sarcastically remarked as Foxington started to grab some supplies for her infamous white suitcase which was able to unfold into a bicycle.

"I can be doing something important with you yet this latex suit won't be beneath my business suit~" Diane cooed all the while she threw a latex suit at Wolf whilst basking in the glory that was her lavish lair and the treasures it contained. "Alright, you! It's time for you to get changed and for us to circumvent an evil guinea pig's plans for the second time!" Foxington unfolded her briefcase after packing it, watching Wolf get dressed and grab some kit for his own black suitcase. "I do wonder one thing, sweetheart..." Foxington zipped up her hoodie as Wolf did the same before he promptly tilted his head.

"What would that be?"

"Have you ever driven a motorcycle before?"