The Iron Depths weren't just gloom and rubble, It was just as much of a thriving city as the topside.
Of course, To a much different degree.
To those born in Ironhaven it might seem worthless but even down here people built their own fortunes. Merchants who sold anything you could ask for, Body modders mixing flesh and metal and most of all, The five factions that ruled supreme.
"Scout?" Sable's soft voice rang out as the three stood hidden away in a backally.
Their eyes peaking out and landing on a four story building a few blocks down the street that was much nicer then it's surroundings.
"There aren't any guards" Kade was the first to speak while Angel stared across the busy street.
"Where exactly did you hear about this?" He turned toward the large boy who looked comical wearing all black.
"A guy came into the scarp yard asking around for some parts" Kade answered.
"He paid easily even when Nix upped the price, So I followed him" He smiled despite Angel's unaumesed face.
"Factions?" Sable looked toward Kade with narrowed eyes.
"Why would someone from one of the factions have no security, He's probably just a rich merchant or something" Angel listened letting his eyes go back to the building with a wary feeling.
"We go in and out as quickly as possible" He let out a small breath.
"Let's go"
Angel led the way moving quietly and smoothly as he began to climb the side of the building, Finding footholds in cracks and ledges worn from years of neglect. It was the practiced ease of someone used to sneaking through the Iron Depths unnoticed.
Every move was calculated, each handhold and step steady as he pulled himself higher.
Kade followed just behind him, though his ascent was noticeably more labored. Angel could hear him grunting with effort as he hoisted himself up, his larger frame making the narrow ledges and crevices harder to navigate.
Angel didn't mind the larger boy's struggle, After all stealth wasn't his strongest suit.
Then there was Sable.
Angel glanced down and watched as she scaled the wall with an effortless grace that seemed almost unnatural. She moved like water, her body twisting and spinning with an acrobat's precision.
At one point, she did a midair turn, twisting to find her footing on a narrow ledge before launching herself up again. She reached the rooftop just seconds after Angel, landing silently and brushing a strand of her blue hair out of her face.
"Show off" Kade muttered, Shooting her a sideways look as he finally pulled himself over the ledge with a huff.
The three glanced at each other before quickly moving beneath the soft glow of the surrounding lights, Hopping from one room to the next until they finally reached their target.
"The window" Kade whispered pointing to the side as he kept guard with Sable ducked down to his side.
"…." Angel didn't speak grabbing onto the gutter that ran down the side of the building.
He let himself swing down, hanging for a moment as he took in the scene below. The street had grown slightly more barren in the time that had passed, Then lowered himself toward the window seal with his feet touching solid ground.
The metal was cool and slick against his fingers as he inched closer, His mind growing focused as he pulled out a small metal pick from his pocket, eyeing the lock with a faint frown.
'This is high grade' He muttered internally.
It was something that a simple merchant wouldn't have just to lock away some coins, But Angel knew how careful those with money were, So he only thought about it for a second.
The lock was sophisticated but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle.
He adjusted his grip, his fingers moving quickly and methodically until he heard the familiar satisfying click of the lock releasing.
"Clear" Angel whispered upward slowly pulling the window up and climbing inside.
His feet hit the floor gently as his gaze landed on the dark room which was shrouded in thick shadows.
The air smelled slightly sweet.
Mixed with a irony metallic.
Behind him there was a quiet thud as Kade climbed through, Landing with less grace followed by Sable who slipped inside with her usual silent finesse.
"Light" Angel murmured while keeping his eyes forward.
Just in case the room wasn't as empty as it seemed.
Kade nodded reaching into his pocket and pulling out the laser Milo and Axon were fighting over a few days ago.
With a small click he activated the modified version, Courtesy of a certain crippled black haired boy as a dim beam of light spread across the room.
The scene that unfolded before them left Angel momentarily speechless.
It was a personal laboratory.
Scattered across a long metal desk just to his right were blueprints and papers laying over eachother. Beside them lay scraps of metal, wires, and strange tools whose purpose he couldn't begin to guess.
The walls were adorned with simple yet pleasant to look at artwork, But what caught Angel's eyes most was the massive bookcase that stretched from floor to ceiling to his left. It was crammed with more books than a street rat like him had ever seen in one place.
Some were thick tomes with gilded covers, others slim and worn from years of handling, their spines cracked and faded.
"Wow" Kade breathed with his awe breaking the silence.
Sable's expression remained unchanged but her beautiful irises had enlarged, Darting from the books to the strange contraptions scattered around.
It wasn't the first time the three had broken into somewhere they didn't belong.
But it was definitely the nicest.