Adult-FanFiction.org : Cartoons

Drakes	By : passionsnapey Category: +1 through F > Darkwing Duck Views: 4567 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Darkwing Duck, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
ATONEMENT

Negaduck pulled a mug out the cupboard over the sink and poured himself some coffee. Black, six sugars and no cream; he was lactose intolerant. One of the many interesting facts Darkwing had learned about his new lover between sweat sessions the night before.

Negaduck hated bunny rabbits and cutsie things like flowers and spring. However, Negaduck was quite the patron of the arts; concerts at St. Canard's Bowler Theatre had inspired the criminal in his youth to take up the clarinet. Between robbing banks and trying to take over St. Canard, Negaduck had let his dream of continuing his musical studies seep into his chest. Now that he was on probation, he would finally have the time to play, if he ever got his clarinet out of hock.

Darkwing watched the duck scowl slightly as he settled into his chair. Negaduck's dark features creased with the morning 'grumpies' as Gosalyn bounced into the kitchen cheerily, pulling food out the cupboards to make her own lunch.

"Here honey, let me get that for you.." Darkwing began.

"Daaad!! I'm old enough to make my own lunch!!"

"The last time you made your own lunch you put three pudding cups and a package of oreo's in instead of a sandwich and yogurt!"

Negaduck growled, got up from his chair, grabbed an apple, juice box, pudding and a pre-made ham sandwich from the fridge and shoved them into a paper bag. He rolled it, shoved it into Gos's hands and mumbled "someone has to watch what you guys eat..." before slumping up to the bathroom to change. Gosalyn smiled at her dad.

"So, I take it you two didn't get much sleep last night..." she giggled.

"Uh..Well, er I..."

"A-hem!"

Both turned to see Launchpad in the door.

"Um, gee DW...I'm gone for less than a night and already Gosalyn's eating healthy food and you're wearing Negaduck's clothes..." Launchpad teased

Darkwing tugged at the knee long "Kill the Funny Bunnies" t-shirt that he was wearing as a nightgown and blushed.

"Uh...."

There was a knock on the kitchen door and Darkwing flung it open, to reveal Herb Muddlefoot. Darkwing grabbed the hem of his t-shirt and pulled it down over his legs. Honker, unnoticed, slunk into the kitchen and blushed at Gosalyn, who sighed and turned her head in return, trying to hide the red colour that was rising on her skin.

"Hello neighbour, if you have a minute I got a little favour to ask you..."

"What do you want, HERB? You're supposed to be helping at Binky's store..." Darkwing huffed.

"That's what I was hoping to ask you...I've got an emergency meeting of the quackerware union and Binky has no help in the store..I was wondering if Gosalyn wouldn't mind taking a day off school with Honker to help her out until I get back?"

"Absolutely not! My daughter needs her education. That comes first!"

"But DAAAD!" Gosalyn complained, jumping at the chance to get out of a math quiz. "Binky needs my help! Pleeeeeeeeze?"

Darkwing turn to glare at his daughter, then finally noticed Honker Muddlefoot sitting shyly at the kitchen table fingering Gosalyn's lunch bag.

"We'd pay her a bit of money too Mallard..." Herb put in.

"I'd be learning how to work within an employment environment dad! Besides, you already said I could help her out on weekends...Pleeeeeze?"

"It sounds like a good idea to me," Launchpad said. "Besides, it's only one day."

Darkwing sighed and threw his hands up to the air. A little cough alerted him to Negaduck's presence in the kitchen. Everyone turned to see an ironically cute smile on Negaduck's face.

"I suppose YOU think she should go TOO!?"

Negaduck chuckled.

"I don't care, but that Muddlefoot woman is smarter than she looks. I think Gosalyn might learn something from her."

Suddenly, Darkwing started laughing. Had everything around him suddenly changed and he had stayed the same? Binky was smart, Gosalyn was a teenager, Negaduck a sex-fiend, Muddlefoot..Well, was Muddlefoot. He shook his head.

"Fine, but you'd better not get bad marks because of this...And don't think I don't know about that math quiz, I'll be calling your school to ask for it to be rescheduled!"

"YAY!!!" Gosalyn launched herself at him. "Thanks dad! Come on Honk-Man!!" she grabbed Honker's hand, her lunch-bag and her jacket and they sped out the door.

"See yah Drake-Meyster," Herb greeted then followed the kids to the Muddlefoot's house.

Drake Mallard, Drake McFeathers and Launchpad McQuack stared at each other in a circle.

"Is it just me? Or does this remind me of a certain episode of Queer as Ducks?"

"Don't even say it DW," Launchpad laughed. "I had Patty complaining all weekend about me living with you. Never met such a narrow minded but sweet person in my life. Heh, er, uh can I borrow your car tonight to take her to the movies? I crashed mine."

Darkwing growled and wrote a note to himself on the fridge to buy Launchpad brain insurance or something. Negaduck chuckled and refilled his cup. After Launchpad settled down with a breakfast of ham eggs and toast and Darkwing was reading the newspaper, Negaduck lowered his cup and sighed.

"So are we a "couple" now?" he asked.

Darkwing stiffened and Launchpad did a face-vault.

"Uh..I think I need to go fix the Ratcatcher...scuze-me..."

Darkwing sweat dropped and Negaduck walked over to him the moment Launchpad left the room. He put a hand on Darkwing's shoulder and got down on the floor at his level.

"Or was last night a one-night stand?"

Darkwing huffed up a little, slightly hurt.

"Darkwing Duck does NOT do one night stands!"

"So what's it going to be....?"

Darkwing sighed. He had never been able to commit to any relationship. His near marriage to Morgana had been a near miss. But Negaduck was looking at him, expectantly searching for some sort of connection to cling to in his cold battered existence. Darkwing shrugged and smiled.

"Why don't we just wait and see where this goes hm? As for being a couple, if you want to call us that, then I'm fair game for it."

Negaduck smiled, cheerfully, then kissed Darkwing fully. Darkwing didn't resist, but pulled Negaduck into his arms and held him tightly. He didn't let go, until Launchpad's little cough of "I need the keys to the Ratcatcher" woke them up.

Darkwing gave the keys to his side-kick then sighed dreamily as Negaduck refilled his coffee cup for the fourth time. There had been so much hope and expectancy in Negaduck's eyes. Darkwing couldn't burst that bubble now. Not when Negaduck was so close to reforming...so close...Darkwing could feel it! He grabbed a cup of coffee himself, then went upstairs to start gathering the laundry. Things were finally going right in his life for a change. And there was no way he would spoil that mood just yet...He wanted this lighthearted feeling to last forever.

-seperator-

Herb leaned into the driver's seat, ignoring the chatter of the two kids in the back seat. He was worried about the quackerware union. Life wasn't as easy as selling quakerware anymore. The government wanted to make laws against quackerware selling door to door and instead implement flyers. Which would delete the need for salesman and leave many people without jobs. Things certainly weren't the same anymore.

Especially with his neighbourhood. He had always thought that Drake was a little...Odd. But the whole thing this morning had disturbed him. Were his wife's fears true? Was Drake really rowing for the other team so to speak?

"Dad, can we stop for a second and pick up some filler paper? I got a project I want to work on today..."

"Kay there Honk Man...I'll drop you and Gosalyn off and you can walk that there half block to the store, I got to get going...Will you two be okay?"

"We'll be fine Mr. Muddlefoot you go ahead." Gosalyn smiled.

"Kay then, you kids have fun, work hard!"

"Bye!!!"

Gosalyn and Honker stood on the side walk and Gosalyn sighed.

"So what is this really about Honk-Man? You know we don't have any projects coming up."

Honker blushed.

"I...I've been feeling really guilty about something I want to get off my chest."

Gosalyn let him continue. She had a pretty good idea what he was going to say.

"Um...Er, you know my brother spies on you..."

"I know...And I have yet to catch him in the act."

Honker shivered slightly then coughed.

"Well, um...I was in his room one time and, oh GOD this is so hard..."

"Its okay Honk-Man..I know. You saw me naked."

Honker's eyes bugged out and he shrunk back horrified.

"I mean..." Gosalyn started, then smiled. "It's okay...If you did. You're not Tank, you're my friend. I know you didn't do it on purpose."

"But I LIKED seeing you naked..." and Honker blushed with deep guilt.

Gosalyn smiled tenderly then put a hand on Honker's shoulder.

"It's okay Honker. Thats normal...And you know what?"

"What..." Honker said miserably.

"There isn't any other guy at school I'd rather have be attracted to me than you..."

Honker blushed then Gosalyn hugged him.

"Now lets go help your Mom..."

Before they pulled away she kissed his cheek then blushed and turned to drag him to the Flower Shop. Honker felt his heart sprout wings for flying.

She kissed me!!!

His heart soared as he felt his hand being squeezed by her own as they entered the store. It was the happiest day in his life!

-seperator-

Negaduck sighed as Darking was roving around the living room pushing a vacuum and singing Weavils tunes in a very good impression of Elvis Duckly. The only problem was, that was the only way Darkwing knew how to sing. And it didn't go well with Sergeant Pepperduck's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

"Don't you have a job or something?"

"Hmm," Darkwing soothed. "J. Gander Hooter always pays me good after a mission or what not. So I guess I work for him. Pays my bills anyways. I wish fighting-crime wasn't my only income, cause that would mean that criminals have a purpose in society, to give me a job. I don't want to be the purpose in this universe for criminals activity. The police are bad enough, encouraging criminals by punishing after a crime rather than preventing the crime in the first place."

"I agree, probation is absolutely awful, all this "living" is really bad for me..."

Negaduck was smiling, and Darkwing realized that he was joking with him.

"I guess your being on probation has done some good for you, I mean, we're an "item" now and I guess that's alright."

"But my probation will be over soon. That means I have to start looking for work in order to really pay you rent. The judicial board won't pay it anymore."

"You don't have to worry about that Negs. You don't cost much to me, and I enjoy you living here."

"But I..."

"Don't worry about it. Lets just worry about helping you stabilise yourself into ordinary society before working on your career or whatever, kay?"

"Okay..." Negaduck grumbled.

Darkwing demanded he lift his feet so he could vacuum under the coffee table and that gave Negaduck the excuse to get up off the couch and go to the kitchen for another cup of java.

He fiddled with the filter for a few minutes before sighing and clenching his fists in pain. He knew that Darkwing was right...But he felt USELESS just sitting around the house! He wanted to contribute to the welfare of the family, his fam....

Was he just about to call Darkwing and Gosalyn family? He smacked himself mentally, and ignored the ringing phone in the living room.

He's just your bed buddy McFeathers, and your probation officer. Even this morning he had said "let see what happens..." Why would he want a criminal like you as a lover...Let alone family? Stop kidding yourself, even though he is the only person who gave you a second chance, you'll never be more than a reformed criminal to him...

He poured some coffee and stopped himself from crying, cursing himself for being weak. Well he wasn't going to be weak anymore. He was going to make some money, HONEST money. And help pay his fair share of the rent.

"Negs, it was J. Gander Hooter on the phone, he needs me for an assignment...Will you be okay here by yourself?"

Negaduck assured Darkwing he would be fine and as soon as Darkwing was gone he grabbed a newspaper and began rifling through the want ads. He would find a job, he would make himself useful. Even if it meant selling his once lucrative Negasweets Chocolate Factory.

Time to become a productive member of society. He picked up the phone and began dialling numbers.

-seperator-

Scratching purple strands of what could possibly be called hair, the green figure fumbled with the keys and finally was able to open the lock. He had deserted his greenhouse long ago when contractors had bought the land out from under his feet, mostly because he hadn't owned it, he had been living on it illegally. Still, living in this tower wasn't very comfortable, and his two roommates were battier than a belfry. He missed life the way it used to be BEFORE Negaduck was caught.

Shaking his head, Bushroot put his paper bag full of shop lifted groceries on the kitchen table and sighed. It wasn't worth it anymore, being a criminal. It was getting harder and harder to go unnoticed by hidden surveillance cameras and just "pick up" a few groceries. And with crime on the low he felt more and more trapped without a purpose, or meaning. There was nothing to do anymore!! He wanted to be...useful.

He groaned as he heard thumping and groaning sounds coming from one of the bedrooms.

DAMN THEM!

"They" were happy. "They" had a purpose...To go on senseless crime sprees and screw each other silly.

The Liquidator had been unable to live with their constant pounding and had finally taken up the constant offers he had been given to join "Liquidex" watering plant as the corporate spokesperson. Even though he swindled and cheated people out of money for water...He was legally, to all intents and purposes, a citizen of St. Canard, on the right side of the law.

But Bushroot was trapped.

A very dishevelled looking Megavolt came out of the bedroom. He had hastily thrown on a pair of what looked to be clown pants with suspenders and his plug-hat was missing somewhere. Bushroot wasn't used to seeing him without a hat, and quirked his head.

"Uh...Do I need to ask...."

"Uh, let's just say I "light" up his life, if you know what I mean!" Megavolt cackled.

Bushroot groaned and shook his head, then groaned again, as a voice from the bedroom shouted...

"IT'S PLAYTIME!!!!!"

Megavolt eeped then ran for the safety of the spare bathroom. Quackerjack, wearing nothing but clown boxers and his lovely jester hat came out carrying a...very odd looking Mr Banana Brain.

"Where'd he go?"

Bushroot shook his head and pointed. There were sounds of yelling, howling and dragging before the bedroom door was shut and thumping could be heard again. Bushroot sat down on the kitchen chair and fiddled with his grocery bag. He was just about to wonder whether he should go rob a bank or something, when the phone rang.

"I'll get it," he said to no one in particular and picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Ah, good, Bushroot, I was hoping you'd be the one to pick up, are the others there?"

"BOSS? IS that you? No the other's are...disposed of...right now..."

"Good, then listen carefully, I need you to break into my old property, you know, the Chocolate factory. I'm tying up some loose ends and wish to sell it. Listen closely. I need you to get the deeds and the foreclosure drafts from the lefthand top drawer of the desk in my office, you got that?"

Bushroot was writing all this down.

"Good, okay...I'm going to sell the factory, and I'll give you a portion of it for all the work you've done so far. You can tell the others that, um, I'm retiring...And I'll be living on my own from now on...Just peace and quiet..."

Bushroot agreed then hung up the phone. The Boss was retiring. This wasn't news really. He had seen it coming before. Now it was just a reality.

But something to do! Now that would be fun! He grabbed his jacket then yelled, "I'm going out!!!" before closing the door with a bang.

Two minutes later, Megavolt came out and started a pot of coffee, followed by a sleepy and yawning Quackerjack.

"Hey, where'd the 'Root, go?"

"I dunno, probably shoplifting again."

"He needs a lover. He's got nothing to do."

"Yeah."

Knowing smiles were exchanged and Megavolt abandoned his coffee pot. After all, when opportunity knocks...

-seperator-

"So tell me...This factory...How long has it been in your family?"

"Three generations sir. It was a bottling company before that, and a toy factory, the chocolate idea came to me Valentines Day so I ran with it."

"What's that there?"

"Just an old table...Look I'm giving you a good deal here, five grand..."

"Looks like a packing box to me...I know that five grand is pretty good, Mr. McFeathers but with your criminal record its hard for me to trust you..."

"Trust isn't what business is about Mr. Everday I. Gedricher..."

The dog-nosed realtor sighed and tried not to agree. With very few market options he couldn't possibly refuse.

"Why are you selling it? I mean...It's the only honest business you owned."

"Yah, but my 'Dad' was a...'quack'...and heck, if 'Uncle Licky' wanted it I would have sold it to him years ago. As a family business it's a failure, but a rich buyer can improve his factory numbers just by punching in new machines. Look, this chocolate mixer is like new. It's a real deal considering how much I put into it."

"Is it true that you were using it to smuggle diamonds?"

Negaduck looked at the realtor and smiled, answering the question.

"Listen. I paid my debt to society and I want to make amends by starting fresh, getting rid of this factory and helping pay rent. I don't want to live off other people for the rest of my natural life. Now can we stop with the personal inquiries, please?"

Gedricher sighed and ran a finger over a new steel conveyor belt.

"Do you think the market will be ready for you?"

Negaduck smiled.

"You can start the bidding at one grand. Then keep it open until my five grand mark has been reached. Unless the bidding goes higher, then keep it open by all means."

The realtor sighed then held out his hand.

"All right, it's a deal..."

"And you'll get your cut after it sells I promise."

"Don't worry, Gedricher Realty always sells."

They shook hands and Negaduck gave the deeds to the man.

"Now, if you'll just sign this contract Mr McFeathers we'll take control of selling your property."

Negaduck was about to sign it, when he thought of something.

"Just a second. I'll be back."

He ran into another room, his office, and pulled open the old wall safe. Turning the dial he pulled out a small bag of diamonds and a small wad of money. He looked at the bag and sighed.

I'll have to get rid of this later. Hate to have to go to the black market again, maybe Bushroot will take as as his payment.

He closed the door to his office, locked it, then went to sign the contract. Things were looking up!

-seperator-

When Darkwing came home, there was no sign of Negaduck.

"That little rat! I told him to stay here! He's on probation!"

Swearing and grumping Darking went to the icebox for a freezy.

"Damn its hot! How did summer come so fast?"

Sucking on the frozen purple juice he went upstairs to find a cool change of clothes. He needed a break. Gosalyn would be out of school in a week, Negaduck would be finished probation and in one week the pool man would be here to build their new pool. Purrrrrrrr.

Pretty soon, while he was down in the kitchen, the door opened and Gosalyn came in.

"Say...uh..Dad..."

"Not now, hon, I'm trying to decide what I'm going to make for our dinner tonight..."

"Thats just it, Binky invited us to come over for a barbecue later. Can we?"

Darkwing sighed.

"I guess so, honey, I'll have to tell LP though because he was bringing Patty over..."

Gosalyn hugged him then flung open the icebox for a freezy.

"Gosh its hot!!"

"That reminds me, honey, I left something for you on your bed. Why don't you go get it then refill the little pool and the water guns. You me and LP can cool off for awhile, since Negs doesn't seem to be here."

"Kay!"

Gosalyn ran upstairs and her squeal of delight told Darkwing that she found the new bathing suit he had left for her. He heard silence for a few seconds, the slamming of a bedroom door and pounding on the stairs. Gosalyn ran into the kicthen, wearing the lovely purple one piece and grabbed him in a hug.

"LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU!!!!"

"Heh, ugh, my neck...J. Gander gave me a little extra so I thought I'd get something for you. Does it fit right?"

"Its perfect Dad, I'm going to go fill the pool."

Which was exactly as Darkwing feared. It was a size small "adult" bathing suit. The children's section didn't fit her anymore.

Damn, she's growing up too fast. She's not so much getting bigger, she's just taller!

He pulled open some cupboards looking for space to put the new plastic freezy trays he bought, and finding none quickly filled the trays with juice and put them in the ice box. Gosh he wished the pool were built today. But the water guns would keep them cool. He heard embarrassed talking from the backyard and decided Honker had come over. Soon he heard the sounds of water splashing and water guns going a mile a minute. When he came outside he saw Gosalyn and Honker in the back yard with Launchpad, attacking him with water guns and Patty sitting in a sun chair.

"Hello Drake..." she said. "Nice weather isn't it?"

"Yup I..."

"HEY DRAKE!!! I GOT SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU!!!"

Darkwing turned to see Negaduck vault over the fence carrying something under his arm and come running up.

"Where did you go?"

"Just a second and I'll show you.."

He set what looked to be like a black case with steel clasps on it and another bag he had been carrying onto the picnic table.

"Got some of my stuff out of hock today. Beh. Clothes, opera tickets...plllth. But this..." he pointed to the case. "Is the most important."

The others came over and he opened the clasps. Lifting the lid everyone gaped in awe.

It was a clarinet, obviously. The slender instrument sat in pieces in red velvet, a little tattered but glistening none the less. Polished black wood and delicate steel keys sparkled in the sunlight. Negaduck ran a delicate finger over the instrument and smiled.

"They used to call me "Jazz" McFeathers...I'd do some gigs down at the old Blue Light Green Light Café on the south side. Those were the days."

He closed the case and sighed.

"I can't wait to play again, I'm a little rusty, but I'll be practising. So you'll hear me play soon."

Everyone looked around nervously, believing that for the next few weeks they'd be hearing an amateur playing honking noises from his room by the attic stairs. But Darkwing had played guitar in his younger days and from the obvious love Negaduck had for the clarinet he knew that only a seasoned professional could care that much about an instrument. He couldn't wait to hear him play. It was about then that the kids started water fighting again and Launchpad had started talking to Patty about music and how his old boss, Scrooge McDuck, had played the bagpipes.

Both Drakes stared at each other for a moment, then Negaduck smiled.

"So you've told everyone yet...."

"No, I'll do that now..."

Darkwing turned, then coughed to get the others attention.

"Can I have your attention please!!!"

They all turned their heads.

"I'd like to announce that Drake and I are a "couple". Drake and Drake. Which is kind of funny now that I think about it," he scratched his head. "And he will be living here from now on."

There were cheers, then Darkwing saw Patty turn to Launchpad and whisper.

"I thought you said he was only a boarder. Not that I care..."

"But I thought you did care, that's why I didn't tell you!"

"You lied to me? How dare you!"

She got up, a little flustered.

"I'm sorry Drake, not that I, er, care, who you live with, but I would like some honesty...And I don't think I'm getting it..."

She turned to leave, and Launchpad got up.

"But Patty!!!" He tried to run after her, then tripped and fell into the little inflatable swimming pool. Darkwing ran over to help him out and the two of them both ended up sitting soaked in the pool. Negaduck came over, grabbed Darkwings hand to help him, and was soon pulled in with them. Since the little pool could only hold two people the sides split, leaving the three ducks sitting in the wet grass, soaked to the skin.

"You know what this means don't you?" Darkwing asked as Patty's car sped off with a crunch of angered engines.

"I do," Negaduck growled.

All at once, everyone shouted, "WATER FIGHT!!!!!"

Gosalyn picked up her gun, and Honker ran for cover as her, Darkwing, Negaduck and Launchpad, armed with water guns buckets and the garden hose began chasing each other trying to splash each other. From over the fence, Binky and Herb watched confounded.

"Do you think this is some sort of aquatic gay wedding ceremony?" Binky asked perplexed.

"Um, possible..." Herb muttered. "But why weren't we invited?"

"It's just a water fight, dad," Tank groused.

"Honker!! Dearest, could you come here a second?"

Harking to his Mother's call, Honker went to the fence.

"Could you give these flower pamphlets to Mr Mallard and Mr McFeathers please. And tell them I do food catering as well."

"But why mom?"

"Never you mind just go."

"And find out if Drakeroonie is still coming to my bar-be-que," Herb added cheerfully.

Honker, confused, ran to where was very soaked and happy Darkwing was sitting in the grass.

"Um, Mr, uh, Mallard, sir, I..."

"What is it?

"Um, I, uh..."

"Honker, spit it out!!"

"Mom told me to give you these!!!"

Drake took the pamphlets and quirked his head.

"Why would she want to give me these?"

"And she said that she does food catering too. But I think she only does it for weddings..."

Then, realizing what his mother was up to, Honker blushed, and hid behind Gosalyn. But Darkwing didn't yell, just blushed.

"Um...Well, Negs and I, aren't, uh, getting married or anything, we're just, a couple, is all," and he blushed deeper. "You thank your mother for the kind offer, but we won't be needing these..."

Honker nodded and Darkwing blushed again. Leave it to Binky to think they were serious. But how did he feel about Negaduck? He didn't know, because somewhere between "Spit it out Honker..." and "Won't be needing these" Negaduck had retreated to the safety of the house.

Si-igh.

"Oh, dad wanted to know if your coming to the barbeque."

"Tell him we might be running late."

Honker smiled and scurried off next door to relate the information. Darkwing, Gosalyn and Launchapd dried off as they cleaned up the back yard then went inside for freezies.

"Damn heat," Darkwing muttered.

"Um, Darkwing." Launchpad, who was trying to phone Patty to apologize, hung up on the dial tone and turned to him. "What do you really feel for Negaduck? Seriously, he's still Negaduck, after all."

Darkwing looked down at his heart shaped freezy pop and sighed. So many ironies in his life. The new pool next week, the Muddlefoots, even his own daughter, ironies of the phoney facade of nuclear family happiness that he put on every day at the grocery store. How did he feel for the criminal he had brought home to reform?

"I care about what happens to him, and I really enjoy being with him, but I'm not quite there yet. So much pain in our past, so much we still have to forgive each other for, its like a battle uphill. He was a criminal, I was a crime fighter. How do we find a middle ground? I don't think we can. But we can enjoy what we have while it lasts."

"Its okay dad, I understand," Gosalyn got up. "You have to sort things out, see how things go before settling down. I'll make sure Honker's family doesn't attack you with flyers again."

"Thanks sweetie, because I'm really quite comfortable staying relatively single. I don't love Negs, but I like him, and that's enough for now."

In the hallway, hidden from them, and relatively quiet, Negaduck leaned against the wall and sighed. How he would have loved to laugh at this moment, but he was in too much pain. How happy he had been getting his clarinet back, how happy he had been having a water fight with the family, Darkwing's family. To have it all torn down by four painful words.

"I don't love Negs...."

Negaduck blinked back the tears he couldn't hold back anymore, the weakness he had fought the moment he was caught stealing his first candy bar as a child and was smacked around for it. He cried, for the first time in years.

Darkwing Duck didn't love him. Not one bit. That solid fact came crashing into him from the walls around him as he stifled down a gasp of realization that had struck him like a lightening bolt.

Darkwing didn't love him maybe, and maybe Negaduck didn't love Darkwing. But he, Drake McFeathers, was in love with Drake Mallard. And it really really hurt to think that those feelings weren't returned.

He realized that he didn't need to hate Darkwing Duck anymore either, because he loved Drake Mallard, and Darkwing naturally came with Drake, they were the same being. Maybe he loved them both. Maybe he was insane.

But Darkwing/Drake didn't love Negaduck, and hadn't once, that he could remember, call him "Drake" instead of Negs. That confirmed it for him.

Damn.

He stopped crying and turned to sneak back up the stairs. He would have to keep his feelings to himself, he would have to be a strong. He resigned himself to studying his clarinet.

As he opened his book of "Big Jazzy Jazz" he realized something else. Blues suited him better. He sighed, then went looking for any other songbook he could find.

Soon, to the silently conversing ducks in the kitchen a sweet sad clarinet rendition of the country song "You Were Mine" came floating mournfully down from the ceiling above.

Silence soon followed.
- 3
- 4
- 5
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Drakes