When the Water's Dried

Going Under

A/N: Finally back with another update! Hopefully I can stop these four month gaps, depending on how busy I am (thanks FF7...). As a warning, this is where it starts to dip into R-rated territory, so read with caution. 

I wanted to get an update in before I leave for Nashville tomorrow for vacation, so enjoy!

Memorizing the location of the X on the map from the gala's location as best she could, Diane drove her small yellow car into an unfamiliar, seemingly abandoned area. Seeing that she had sped a little far past her next turn, she hit the brake, before shifting the gear into reverse and backing up.

Putting her car back into drive, Diane crossed through a pipe-shaped tunnel that revealed a tall and impressive, yet abandoned building. Given Los Angeles' otherworldly size, it was no wonder this place hadn't been discovered yet. However, this building was exactly what the X represented, which meant she was in the right place.

Diane parked her car and stepped out, slowly approaching the building. Even though she didn't know what awaited her inside, it was undoubtedly where Wolf and the others lived. As the city's most feared caper crew, it made sense that they'd want to keep their whereabouts a secret on days they chose to lay low. And to Luna, this place meant home.

Diane had meant to go find Luna after she watched the S.U.C.M van race away and overheard Marmalade's damning exchange with Tiffany, but she was nowhere to be seen. Even in the mass crowd she wouldn't be difficult to spot, especially since the pink dress that she was wearing allowed her to stand out.

Instead of having her meet up with Chief Luggins and get sent over to the east side of the country, Diane intended on telling Luna that she also knew the Bad Guys were innocent and the two would come up with an idea to rescue them. Chief Luggins hadn't informed Diane of having Luna with her, which could only mean one thing: Luna was still somewhere in Los Angeles. And she was likely waiting inside the hideout, or at least on her way back there.

Noticing an elevator as she stepped inside the building, Diane pressed the up button. After the chime sounded, the dual doors slid apart, and she entered the confined cubicle. She pressed the button for the top floor, and after a few seconds, the doors reunited with each other.

Without any annoying music playing one might expect to hear in an elevator at the mall, Diane could perfectly hear the pounding of her heart. She couldn't tell if it was because she had made it to the Bad Guys' lair with perfect ease, she didn't know what she was walking into, or both. After what felt like an eternity, the elevator doors finally opened, showcasing the answer Diane had been so anxious to find out.

Gold bars, dollar bills, and jewelry littered the room. Famous artworks including the Mona Lisa were scattered about, and she could see some arcade machines.

"I'm giving it all back," Wolf's voice echoed into Diane's head.

While Luna was nowhere in the orange fox's field of vision, that didn't yet erase the possibility she was here. She likely heard the elevator moving and went off somewhere to hide.

"Luna?" Diane called as she carefully paced through the Bad Guys' hideout. "Luna, it's me, Diane. Don't worry, I'm not mad at you, and I'm not here to send you away. I just want to talk to you." Nothing but the eerie silence answered her. The girl must've been hiding in her bedroom.

Since Diane had obviously never been to the Bad Guys' hideout before, she didn't know where any of them slept. Figuring that all the doors led to each member's bedroom, Diane checked each one, none of their contents appearing to belong to the lone human girl.