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rebellingstagnationblog · 6 years

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“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee (Day 4 of 31)

For @historian-in-pearls, who asked for Drake cutting down his Christmas tree.

Drake took a deep breath before exhaling mightily. “Ahhh. Do you smell that, Gos? The crisp winter air, the slight damp of the coming snow, the tang of pine…”

“You can smell snow coming?” Gosalyn interrupted, studying her father out of the corner of her eye as she tugged her coat more securely around her.

“All true outdoorsman can!” Drake insisted, puffing out his chest and tossing up his head proudly.

Gosalyn smirked. “Well, tell me when one decides to show up.”

Drake raised an eyebrow. “You don’t think I’m a true—”

“There’s not even a cloud in the sky,” Gosalyn pointed out. “But you can smell the coming snow?”

“Gosalyn, Gosalyn, Gosalyn,” Drake lamented, shaking his head. “I know the snow is coming the same way I know how to choose the best Christmas tree: years of experience, an intuitive connection with everything around me, and good old fashioned knowhow.”

“He’s right, Gos,” Launchpad said. “Snow’s supposed to start falling around seven.”

Gosalyn cocked an eyebrow and glanced at Drake. “That’s awfully specific.” She looked over to Launchpad. “How do you know it’s gonna snow?”

“We saw it on the news before we left.”

“We?” Gosalyn asked.

Drake laughed nervously, gripping his axe in his gloved hands. “Look at all those trees all the way over there. I better, um, go pick the best one so we can get home before the snow hits.”

“Oh, we got plenty of time, DW! There’s four hours until its supposed to start snowing—”

“Yes, thank you, Launchpad,” Drake ground out, stomping down the hill towards the copse of trees he’d spotted.

It didn’t matter how he came by the information. It was enough just to know a storm was coming. Really, the news had only confirmed his outdoorsman instincts that told him about the coming snow. It’s not like the news was right all the time, anyway. Just look at how they handled the coverage on his crime fighting; namely, there wasn't any. Which, when it came down to it, was the real crime. Think of all the people he could inspire and how many more citizens would sleep better knowing that the daring Darkwing Duck defended the downtown district from dangerous desperados.

But no. They just confirmed a coming snow storm that Drake absolutely totally knew was coming before he watched the forecast.

Approaching the trees, Drake studied them carefully, taking into account height, width, the shade of green, and the shape of the trunk. No one said the life of an outdoorsman was glamorous, but Drake was willing to live the unglamorous life. The outdoor lifestyle was worth it.

Circling around a perfectly proportioned pine, its crisp scent bringing a smile to Drake’s beak, he carefully eyed it for any flaws. And when he didn’t find any that alerted his keen sharpened outdoorsman instincts, he arranged his hands along the handle of the axe, balancing its weight evenly.

“As any true outdoorsman will tell you,” he said to Gosalyn and Launchpad, who had followed him to the trees, “using an axe to cut down a tree is always the preferred method. It’s better for the bark and offers more consistency than a motorized tool.”

“That’s not even close to being true,” Gosalyn said.

Drake scowled. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand, not being a true outdoorsman yourself.”

“I’m not outdoor anything,” Gosalyn said, stuffing her hands into her coat pockets. “There’s a reason man invented homes; so he wouldn’t have to go outside. Can you please just get on with this cutting down the tree thing?”

“You can’t rush nature, Gos.” Drake swung the axe back over his shoulder. “And in order to become a true outdoorsman,” he swung it down, the blade biting into the wood with a solid thunk, “you have to become one with nature.” He swung it back. “Learn from her.” He hit the tree with a thunk. “Become apart of the surroundings.” Swing. “Absorb everything it has to teach you.” Thunk. “Why, just from sitting atop a hill or even in a park,” swing, “you’re already learning about nature.” Thunk. “The valuable lesson of the circle of life.” Swing. “How you should only take what you need, not what you want.” Thunk. “And most importantly,” swing, “patience.” Thunk.

“Whew!” Drake pulled the axe free and studied the trunk of the tree. “Thought I’d be farther along by now.” It had looked so easy in the online instructional videos. He’d recently become obsessed with cutting down their own Christmas tree and decided this would be the year.

But no one mentioned how much work went into it.

That didn’t matter, though. Nothing worth having was easily won.

“You know,” Gosalyn said. “Negaduck carries a chainsaw with him.”

“Oh, really? I had no idea,” Drake grumbled, glancing back at his daughter. “Now, if you please, I need to concentrate.” Gripping the axe tighter, Drake began cutting the tree down with renewed strength.

In between his steady rhythm of swing, thunk, he heard Launchpad say, “A chainsaw would be helpful right now.”

“Right?” Gosalyn said. “He never listens to me.”

Embedding the axe deep into the trunk, Drake turned around to face the two, hands on his hips. “You are breaking my concentration! Unless you plan on helping, go stand over there where I can’t hear you.”

With a glance to Launchpad, Gosalyn walked away, heading for the area her father had pointed towards.

Drake glanced at Launchpad, who shrugged in response. He pointed at the pilot’s chest and asked, “You gonna keep your bill shut?”

“If it helps.”

“Good.” Drake turned back around and yanked the axe free. “Because I need silence to focus on my bonding time.” Swing. “It takes the departure from civilization,” thunk, “and the silence of the woods around you,” swing, “to really bond with nature.” Thunk. “Once I fully connect to my surroundings,” swing, “I can become one with this tree.” Thunk. “Understand it,” swing, “down to its roots.” Thunk. “See the impact,” swing, “I am making,” thunk, “by removing it,” swing, “from it’s woodsy home.” Thunk. “Show my,” swing, “appreciation,” thunk, “for the sacrifice,” swing, “that’s being made.”

When he started the downswing, the axe slipped from Drake’s hands and went flying. The momentum pulling him forward, Drake fell flat on his beak in a bank of snow. Launchpad yelped and ducked out of the way of the rogue axe.

Propping himself up on his elbows, Drake spat out a beak-full of snow and glared at Launchpad. “Not a word,” he growled.

Launchpad disappeared into the trees after the axe, smothering his laughter.

“You okay, Dad?” Gosalyn asked, jogging back over to him.

“Never better!” Drake exclaimed, leaping to his feet before Gosalyn made it over. “All apart of the process of becoming one with our Christmas tree.”

“Sorry, DW,” Launchpad said as he emerged from the trees. “No sign of your axe anywhere.”

“The outdoors giveth and the outdoors taketh away,” Drake said forlornly.

He wondered where he might be able to find another axe. Maybe there was a hardware store nearby. Or maybe he could fashion something out of his surroundings….

“Well, let’s taketh this tree away,” Gosalyn said, pulling out a small chainsaw from behind her back. “I’m freezing.”

“Gosalyn!” Drake said, a hand coming up to rest over his heart, appalled. “A true outdoorsman would never stoop so low as to use a—”

“I’ll tell everyone you chopped the dumb tree down yourself,” Gosalyn promised.

Drake grabbed the chainsaw. “And after only a few swings.”

“Like the great outdoorsmen of old.” Gosalyn smirked.

Drake smiled in return as he yanked the chainsaw to life.

If a tree fell in the woods, and no one except his family was around to see it, did it really matter how it was cut down?

#darkwing duck #Drake Mallard #launchpad mcquack #Goslayn Mallard #31 days of christmas #rocking around the christmas tree #geronimo #writing #fanfiction

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popculturebuffet · 3 years

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The Not-So Secret Origins of Darkwing Duck: Clash Reunion: The Real Villian was Inside That Douche You Went to High School With All Along (Commissioned by WeirdKev27)

Hello all you happy people and welcome back to The Not-So Secret Origins of Darkwing Duck, my weeklong 30th anniversary celebrating look at the many origins of the terror that flaps in the night. And this time we’re going to have some Fast Times at St. Canard high as Drake attends his high school reunion. I sadly missed my ten year one due to Covid and still don’t know if that’s ever been rescheduled or was done over zoom or some third thing. It honestly WOULD have been nice to reconnect with old friends and see how it all went. Still at least I can live through it with the Terror that Flaps in the Night.. and remind myself why it probably wouldn’t have been neat as I remember so that’s something I suppose.

If you want to comission your own review of any tv episode or comic, feel free to hit me up via my ask box and we’ll talk over what you want me to cover. It’s only 5 bucks an issue or episode with every fourth one off so do consider it won’t you and join me under the cut as we go through Darkwing’s Awkward teenage phase.

We open at the Mallard Household. As Gosalyn tries to scam money out of Launchpad over monopoly, Drake goes through the mail and finds his class reunion is happening this saturday, and reminisces about how he was the big man on campus alongside quarterback hamm string, who naturally is a pig...

Not you sweetheart. Just a regular if excemptionally douchey pig. I mean your exceptional anyway.. but.. okay train of though... where were we? Oh yeah... And head cheerleader. Preena Lot whose naturally a “your guess is as good as mine”.

We flashback.. and shockingly the guy who in 50 years will be lying to children about how he met a genie and his daughter/mentor died from a cola overdose was lying. Drake’s brash personality and tendency to search for mysteries that weren’t there made him a laughing stock with his peers, called “drake the dweeb” by h Hamm and Preena and bullied often. While I didn’t you know, accuse my classmates of theft like Drakey did, I can relate to being an overexcited overly intense weirdo who some douchebag mocked.

A lightbulb goes off in goslayn’s though when Drake points out the class nerd Elmo Sputterspark, whose picture our heroine doodles on.. and who is quickly threatened by drake for it.

But he relents when he realizes she was indeed right. Megavolt meanwhile gets ready for said reunion and we get his origin story: turns out he was also picked on by Hamm and Preena quite a bit, though unlike Drake he did nothing and was simply picked on for being a nerd as is genre convention.

Hamm crossed the line from regular bullying to “criminal douchebaggery” though as while Elmo was working on an experiment to use static electricity via a treadmill, bacon bitch thought ti’d be funny to up the intensity which shockingly leads to the birth of Megavolt. See kids besides basic human decency this is why you don’t bully: when you do you stand a 50 percent chance of creating a supervillian who now rightfully wants to kill you. Or a superhero whose biggest fan you are.. that last one’s still tricky it’s REALLY awkward when you find out. Just ask Flash Thompson.

We cut back to Darkwing who continues the story: Turns out Megavolt was Darkwing’s first nemesis and formal outing. Granted this is treated like the first time in general, as Drake comes up with the name.. it’s not a huge stretch to say Paraducks happened and Drake simply forgot the details surrounding his future self and simply kept the inspiration to be a crimefighters, with the name sticking around in his subconcious.

Drake was striking out at Prom when Megavolt showed up to wreak his.. actually pretty well earned vengance. Drake tried stopping him, because heroes have to save everyone even the douchebags or else J.Jonah Jameson would’ve died a few decades ago, but fails and is laughed at by Hamm... who is promptly easily beaten by Megavolt who prepares to torture him.

Drake ducks back deciding he needs a disguise since no one respects drake. It oddly parallels something from Batman year one: bruce TRIED going out and fighting crime without the costume but failed miserably, got arrested and only wasn’t caught as bruce because he was in a rough disguise. Never thought i’d be comparing Darkwing Duck to anything written by frank miller. Hopefully this only happens this once and I’m not going to be reviewing an episdoe of the reboot down the line where drake forces Gosalyn to eat rats. I would be fine if they put this scene in there though.

It’s not frank miller, but I do want it in every version of batman from now until the heat death of the universe.

So he puts on some stuff from the costume department over his tux, grabs some smoke bombs from a recent production, because of COURSE he was a theater kid, and sets about thinking up a name... The Masked Mallard, The Webbed Wonder, none of them quite landed. Also yes they really did make those ducktales refrences.. which again begs the question how the fuck Tad thought this was an alternate timeline, but hey.

So Darkwing makes his entrance and finds his name, and has a fun dustup with Megavolt, whose hilarious as always I just don’t have time in the review to go into every time he’s fucking hilarous. Needless to say Dan Castelntia is on fire in this one. Darkwing beats him, gets the praise he deserved and comes back as Drake to get the scorn he didn’t.

I genuinely love this origin: it dosen’t undo the already brilliant one from Paraducks but enhances it, both showing how Drake’s ego anlihenated him from everyone (Though Hamm genuinely is an ass and a halff as is his future wife, so that dosen’t help), and how he manged to make it work, and letting him fully craft his ego, using some costumes and stage magic and showing he truly had the talent for superheroing, taking down an opponenet with full powers in his first outing with just some stage smoke bombs and some skill.

So being the consummate hero Darkwing plans to head to the reunion with Launchpad in tow.. and Gosalyn staying at home. As you’d imagine this works about as well as telling her to stay in the car.

He runs into Hamm and Preena who not only blow his cover about being universally loved, but also are still pretty much the same and instead of failing horribly, have gone on to run their own company. Somehow the assholes winning despite having learned absolutely nothing is the most realistic thing about this show.

So after waiting six hours, Drake ends up bumping into Megavolt who launches his scheme to get revenge right this time, and Drake turns into darkwing as you’d expect to stop him. We get a bunch of good jokes about Deja Vu as the two clash again and it goes about the same as last time.

Except.. after everyone but the most repulsive couple in america, megavolt and team darkwing are gone.. Megavolt accidently gets Drake’s mask off... and thus Megavolt, thing one and thing two all start laughing at the poor guy. Just.. for two solid minutes.. two solid minutes of the poor guy’s esteem going down the toilet.

It’s just painful to watch, if in a good way and makes the rest of the episode credible: sure Drake’s a grown man.. but bullying like that can leave scars and just because he annoyed everybody dosen’t mean it didn’t HURT when they all laughed at him, nor was it okay for wingus and dingus to bully him. That shit hurts and being reduced back to that, to having his former tormentors and some guy he’s beaten a bunch all laugh at him for what he was in freaking high school, to make it clear no matter how far he’s come, acomplished and conquered.. he’s still just the dork he was in high school to them and the feeling that no matter what you do you’ll always be the version of yourself you hate the most.. it fucking stings. I’ve been there I know... not you know unmasked by my arch enemy in front of old tormentors but feeling you’ll never evolve and will always be the same. That i’ve been to.

Megavolt, in a nice show of humanity, dosen’t have it in him to fry Darkwing after this. I like it, it shows a human side to him and that at the end of the day he gets it: he was bullied too, and he just did the same thing back to drake. So he lets his nemisis go.. but the two bullying dipsticks who just undid their own rescue? No them he takes to go get his long overdue vengeance on.

So Goslayn and Launchpad, with a near catatonic drake, rush to stop him...

Eh.. I guess in the same situation i’d save them. Their assholes and they desrve to be punished but Elmo very clearly wants to kil them.. a sentence I don’t get to write near enough. Point is even if their bad people.. you have to save them. Darkwing can always have SHUSH look into their taxes later.

So Gos and Launchpad try to motivate darkwing, talking about him being the hero, etc. Launchpad even offers to do that thing with his mouth he likes, but no luck. The two are forced to go in themselves.. and get captured pretty easily, with Megavolt planning to light them all up for the whole city and something somethign world domination.

Drake, realising the people he loves.. and two assholes he dosen’t like but has to save anyway because darned ethics, are in trouble, and get shis second wind, returning mask or no mask, confidence or no confidence.. He was Darkwing Duck and he always will be and no petty assholery is going to change that.

So Drake charges in, buisness as usual ensues and he gets knocked down..next to the rubber cement... which he quickly loads into his blaster, beating Megavolt and saving everybody.

We then get a quick wrapup: the two douchebleros apologize because their greatful NOW he’s saved their lives like three times, and he hyptonitizes the knowledge of his secret ideneeity out of them because he can’t trust them, with Megavolt having it.. gets a realistic conclusion: due to his scattered mental state he can’t remember who drake was and probably won’t rmemeber he knew long enoguh to ever use it. Lucky him.

Final Thoughts:

Another excellent episode in a trio of them. The idea of giving both Darkwing and his most iconic nemisis a shared backstory was fun, i’m always a sucker for a superheros early outfit so seeing darkwing’s first run outfit was a blast for me, and in general i’ts a breezy 20 minutes packed with so many jokes I had to gloss over them so while it probably didn’t come across how funny this episode is, belivie me i’ts really delightful. A true classic.. and sadly Megavolt’s last episode, but what a note to go out on. And of course I still got reams and reams to watch. I’ll probably be reviewing darkwing until I have a scraggly beard and are telling kids made up stories of my exploits.....which come to think of it is also my present.

Next Time: We wrap this up with the best darkwing origin of all as we meet Ducktales take on our hero and it gets meta... and we also get a b-plot that bothers me on a molecular level. Even more than the sasquatch one. You’ve been warned.

#darkwing duck #drake mallard #launchpad mcquack #gosalyn mallard #megavolt #high school #disney plus #disney channel #superhero #ducktales

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transdarkwingduck · 5 years

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Worries and All

Darkwing Duck (fic under the cut)

Pairing: drakepad babey

Warning: Non-graphic violence

Summary: After foiling a F.O.W.L. plot and a perilous fight with Steelbeak, Darkwing Duck and Launchpad are victorious. Unfortunately, DW has been injured in the fight. Having seen LP and Gosalyn's reactions the last time he had gotten hurt enough to warrant medical attention, he isn't so keen on telling his sidekick.

ao3 link here

“That felonious fiend is finished!” Darkwing Duck proudly announced watching St. Canard’s finest drag the fainted form of Steelbeak into the Police Transport Vehicle. Well, until F.O.W.L. busts him out again, Darkwing added silently. No matter! Whatever feeble attempt at world larceny Steelbeak cooks up is no match for the likes of Darkwing Duck!

Foiling Steelbeak’s future plans could wait. First, he just had to take care of the nick Steelbeak had dastardly dealt him before he managed to get the upper hand in the fight. Jeez that smarts. He pressed a hand to his right side, grimacing at the throb that originated from the wound. I ought to keep pressure on it, doesn’t seem too bad but Goslayn would sooner wring my neck than let me accidentally pass out from blood loss. He thought to himself, a faint smile on his face.

“DW! Great job out there,” Launchpad, his fateful sidekick and civilian partner commended as he walked over from where he’d been helping herd the remaining F.O.W.L. Eggmen into the police van. “I really thought ol’ Steelbeak was gonna take a chomp outta ya!”

Darkwing’s face flushed, thankfully hidden by his mask and hat, “Nonsense I had everything under control.” He boasted. His eyes flickered down to where his hand was pressed to his wound, obscured from Launchpad’s vision by the cape. Well, not everything. The masked duck opened his beak to inform Launchpad of his predicament when he quickly shut it and frowned.

Drake Mallard, Darkwing Duck or otherwise was always getting injured. It was just in his nature, his hands-on approach sometimes called for him getting walloped by a bad guy. But he always managed to bounce back! Usually that is. He recalled a particularly nasty encounter with Negaduck roughly six months ago that had resulted in a broken rib or two and the worst stomach laceration in his career. The nerve of that guy amirite? His frown deepened as he remembered the frantic and terrified expressions on his partner and daughter’s faces when they caught sight of him bloodied on the ground and gasping for air. Not to mention the particularly glum look of Gosalyn’s when she lied to the Muddlefoots claiming Drake had merely fallen off the ladder trying to do some repairs on the roof.

Drake didn’t necessarily want to make Launchpad and Gosalyn relive that again. He was pretty handy when it came to first aid, he’d taken care of worse on his own easily. No need to concern them. He’d just fix it up on his own no problem. The pain for the most part was fading anyway, so long as he didn’t jostle the wound, he’d be able to make it back to Darkwing Tower fine. His thought process was interrupted when a feathered hand waved in front of his face.

“DW? You good buddy? You kinda zoned out on me there.” Launchpad said with a chuckle, his forehead still wrinkled with concern. Darkwing shook his head to clear his thoughts, pushing down Launchpad’s arm away from his face.

“I’m alright, just beat after that fight. Crime fighting’s hard work.” DW said with a false yawn. He fished out the keys to the Ratcatcher from his pocket with his free hand, holding them out to Launchpad. “You mind driving back to the Tower? Don’t want me falling asleep at the wheel.”

Launchpad smiled, relieved it was merely exhaustion that had DW down, nothing a good night’s sleep couldn’t fix. He clasped Darkwing’s shoulder, giving him a pat and taking the keys. “Sure thing DW.” He replied, releasing his hand and walking towards the parked bike.

Darkwing Duck forced a cheerful grin onto his face, resisting the urge to wince as Launchpad’s accidental strength behind the pat jostled his injury. He always managed to forget how strong his partner was. The fake grin slipped off his face once LP had turned and focused on starting up the bike, he didn’t exactly trust himself behind the wheel while wounded. But Launchpad didn’t need to worry about that.

Launchpad sat down on the Ratcatcher, making sure his aviator hat was well secured, aware Gosalyn had already lectured DW about the safety of riding without any protection. He fumbled with the keys for a moment before finding the correct one and sliding it into the ignition. He started the engine, keeping the motorcycle in neutral until the engine warmed up and DW climbed into the sidecar.

His gaze flickered over to his partner as Darkwing removed his hat and secured the helmet to his head, noticeably using only one of his hands. LP frowned, he swore DW looked pale… Was it just the lighting from the streetlamps over their heads? Come to think of it DW didn’t often give up the keys to the Ratcatcher, he enjoyed driving it too much and complained the fairing shield in the sidecar didn’t stop his feathers from getting messed up by the wind. He shook his head attempting to dispel the thought from his head, he was just being a tad paranoid. DW was just tired, probably had a few bumps and bruises from the fight that could be fixed up just by taking it easy. When your husband makes a living putting St. Canard’s scariest scoundrels behind bars you tend to worry from time to time. Even if you were Launchpad “danger buff” Mcquack.

DW gingerly climbed into the sidecar, trying not to make his injury ache more than it already did. He looked up to Launchpad who met him with a warm smile, Darkwing after a moment’s hesitation returned it with one of his own. How Launchpad managed to improve his mood with merely a loving smile eluded him, but he found it always did. He wanted nothing more than to return home and curl up in his partner’s arms before the sun rose; but the last thing he needed was a wound like this getting infected and putting him out of commission for a few days.

The Ratcatcher rumbled to life as Launchpad shifted gears and sped towards the Audubon Bay Bridge. Darkwing looked at the streetlamps they passed with muted interest as he formulated an excuse that would permit him to slink off and take care of his laceration without Launchpad growing worried. Passing over a particularly large speed-bump caused DW to let out a hiss of pain as he was jostled, thankfully the roar of the engine muffled the noise to Launchpad.

Thanks to the Ratcatcher’s speed they arrived at Darkwing Tower in a matter of minutes. Launchpad killed the engine and hopped off the bike. With a light smile, he outstretched a hand to DW in a considerate gesture to help him step out of the sidecar. Darkwing scoffed at the chivalry, poorly hiding an amused smile as he took the hand and stood. Immediately after rising, spots danced across his field of vision and a dizzying sick feeling overtook him. Maybe he wasn’t as well off as he believed. Instinctively he clutched Launchpad’s hand tighter until his vision cleared, and the dizziness became manageable. It only took a moment to have it under control, but it was long enough for Launchpad’s face to become filled with concern.

“DW are you alright??” His partner asked worriedly, reaching his other arm out to support him and keep him from falling should Drake stumble. DW waved the arm off and released Launchpad’s hand.

“I’m fine, LP. Just stood up too fast. Don’t worry about it.” He reassured, stepping out of the sidecar, frowning at the worried expression that remained on LP’s face. “I’m okay, Launchpad.”

Launchpad seemed unconvinced, his brows furrowed but he nodded. “If you say so DW…” He mumbled, looking uneasily at his companion.

Drake felt a pang of guilt, this had been the exact opposite of his intentions. He loathed that worried and uncertain expression that he had brought to Launchpad’s face. Blasted blood loss botching up his attempt to ease his family’s fears! He removed his helmet, setting it down on the seat of the Ratcatcher. Drake feigned a smile, “Hey, at least my feathers managed to stay unruffled despite the wind.”

Launchpad let out an amused huff, “For the most part that is.” He said, smoothing down a stray feather sticking up on the side of Drake’s face, sporting a small smile.

Drake’s smile became more genuine, “That frustrating feather! What would I do without you?” He declared in a playful manner.

That earned a laugh out of Launchpad, “Okay, okay Mr. Dramatics let’s hurry up and get home. I’m beat.” LP replied, his smile having widened at Drake’s eccentrics.

Drake faltered for a moment before he regained his composure and remembered his fabricated explanation, “Yes of course. Why don’t you go on ahead? I oughta submit a report to S.H.U.S.H. about Steelbeak’s plans while they’re still fresh in my mind.”

Launchpad hesitated, “Gee DW, are you sure? That seems a bit above our paygrade. I thought you were tired?”

“Well it is but that stick in the mud Gryzlikoff would never let me hear the end of it if I learned something pertinent to the investigation and didn’t say anything. Crime never sleeps, and while I, Darkwing Duck, still require a few hours I can manage for a little longer!” Drake replied, itching to hurry this conversation along so he could take care of his injury. He swore his hand pressing the cloth of his costume to his side felt slick, maybe he was just clammy from nerves. Yeah, nerves, that was it.

The pilot sighed, “Okay DW, don’t work yourself too hard. I don’t mind waiting here while you finish up.” He said.

Drake gave him a weak smile, “Great. I’ll be done in a bit.” He responded, turning away and fully intending to retreat to one of the more isolated areas of the Tower to tend to his injury with one of the many med kits he’d stashed around. He didn’t get the chance, Launchpad placing a hand on Drake’s right side and giving him a quick peck on the beak. An endearing gesture of affection LP would do often, which DW had no qualms with and was in fact fond of. However, as luck would have it, Launchpad’s hand was on the wrong side.

He inhaled sharply, gritting his teeth to keep a yelp from escaping him as pain shot up his body. Blathering blatherskite that hurt. His whole form tensed in response to the sudden shock to his system. As much as Drake applauded himself for retaining his composure -tears threatening to spill aside- his acting wasn’t as good as he had hoped. Launchpad immediately released the gentle hold he had on him, not wanting to cause Drake any further pain. His expression was one of stunned dismay, concern soon overtaking it.

“DW! I’m so sorry- Are you okay??” Launchpad exclaimed in a flurry of words, continuing to apologize. He looked unsure of what to do, his first instinct was to hold onto his partner to provide comfort or support should Drake fall over. But he didn’t know what caused the sudden reaction in the first place.

Drake took a shuddering breath, attempting to smile which looked more like a weak grimace. “Y-Yeah I’m fine LP, just got some bruising there… took me by surprise.” He replied, a slight wheeze to his voice.

Launchpad narrowed his eyes, taking in Drake’s slightly hunched frame, the way he favored his left side, his right hand’s ‘mysterious’ lack of use, now that they weren’t relying on streetlights for visuals, he could properly see just how ashen Drake’s face looked. “Bullshit. DW you’re hurt. Let me see.”

Drake shook his head, “Really Launchpad its fine-“

“Let me see, DW.”

“It’s not a big deal!”

“DW-“

“You don’t need to worry, honest!”

“Drake. Please…” Let me see, I’m worried about you were the words left unspoken.

Whatever retort or excuse Drake planned to respond with died on his tongue upon seeing the look on Launchpad’s face and the quiet desperation in his voice. He let out a sigh, rubbing at his temples with his free hand. “Okay okay…” He relented, “Don’t freak out, it’s really not that bad.” Drake unclipped his cape, discarding it to the floor. He lifted the coat and turtleneck of his costume to reveal the wound.

His partner blanched upon looking, which did not reassure Drake in the slightest. “Not that bad’ my ass DW you need stitches!” Launchpad exclaimed upon seeing the injury, his eyes wide with disbelief.

For the first time since Steelbeak stabbed him, Drake got a good look at the wound for himself. If even possible, he managed to grow even paler. “Okay,” He started in a small voice, “It might be a bit worse than I thought.”

The incredulous yeah-no-shit look Launchpad gave him in any other situation would’ve been hilarious. Not so much this one. LP gave an exasperated sigh and rubbed at his face. He straightened and walked over to DW to get a better look for himself.

Despite DW’s instinctive reaction to brush off Launchpad and insist he’d take care of it, he let his partner examine the injury. The worried furrow in Launchpad’s brow didn’t seem like it was leaving his face any time soon.

“Might as well keep putting pressure on it while I get you situated and get the first aid kit.” His partner instructed with an expression that was soft with concern but unyielding to any protests Drake might voice. “Now stay still. I don’t wanna make this anymore painful.”

Drake complied and found himself being lifted, ever so gently by Launchpad; who seemed to be taking great lengths to avoid jostling his injury. Launchpad’s arms wrapped around him, careful to steer clear from wound. As much as Drake wanted to object to the treatment and claim how unnecessary it was, he couldn’t help but feel comforted in his partner’s warm and secure arms- not to mention it felt great to be off his feet. He found himself relaxing into Launchpad’s hold, resting his head on Launchpad’s chest. Maybe he was sleepier than he realized.

Drake blinked the tiredness out of his eyes, trying to keep himself alert as he was gingerly deposited onto the couch. They’d installed it in the Tower after Gosalyn complained a few too many times about there being no place for her to lounge while her Dads were on a case. Drake found his head resting on a throw pillow and laying across the full length of the couch. Before he had even registered his partner was gone, Launchpad reappeared with a first aid kit, a water bottle, and freshly washed hands.

Launchpad set down the supplies on the coffee table beside the couch, fumbling with the buttons on Drake’s coat. His masked partner lightly shooed his hand away, mumbling something about being able to do it himself. He unbuttoned his costume and lifted his turtleneck to remove any obstruction of the wound while Launchpad fished out the gauze.

Launchpad pressed the gauze against Drake’s side, taking notice of his husband’s grimace that followed. “So, you wanna tell me how this happened DW?” He prompted, wanting to keep Drake engaged while he slowed the bleeding.

Drake let out a frustrated huff, “Steelbeak just caught me off guard ‘s all… Honestly LP it’s not worth all this hubbub, we both know I’ve dealt and defeated worse.” He replied, not meeting his partner’s eyes. Sinister Steelbeak just had to be a huge spoilsport and cause all this trouble. His gaze flickered to LP’s hands over the gauze.

He recalled the scuffle they got into after Darkwing foiled the rooster’s plans while Launchpad dispatched the Eggmen nearby.

“You just have to ruin everything, dontcha Dipwing?”

“What can I say? It’s part of my charm.”

They exchanged some repartee which Steelbeak didn’t seem to be much in the mood for judging by the furious swinging of his knife he’d snatched from an Eggmen after Darkwing disarmed him of a laser gun. One misstep dodging sent him crashing to the floor with Steelbeak in tow. Next thing Darkwing Duck knew, he felt a knife being yanked free from where it had embedded in his side. Instinct resulting in him kicking a webbed foot directly into Steelbeak’s face. Shortly after the fight had turned in his favor, adrenaline and desperation probably playing a large factor. Thankfully Darkwing had experience fighting while injured.

Launchpad frowned as Drake averted his eyes, “ ‘Doesn’t matter, you should’ve said something…” With one hand still staunching the blood flow, he reached over and passed the water bottle to Drake along with the ibuprofen from the med kit.

Drake made a noncommittal grumbling noise but complied and took the ibuprofen, chasing it down with water. If LP was right about stitches, then he’d need the painkillers. They found themselves lapsing into silence, Launchpad slightly miffed and worried about his husband, and Drake struggling to find the words to explain his reasoning for hiding the injury.

A short while passes and Drake is snapped out of his thoughts as Launchpad gently removes his hands from Drake’s side. “Looks like you’ve stopped bleeding, lemme get out the Saline.” Launchpad said, turning to rummage through the med kit. Drake spared no expense when it came to medical supplies, every trip to the hospital was another risk to his identity so it was best for them to avoid it when possible. Not to mention a hefty medical bill S.H.U.S.H. wouldn’t be happy about paying.

As Launchpad searched, Drake tried again to explain himself. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate it… It’s just that you shouldn’t have to worry about this kind of stuff, LP. I’ve fixed up way worse by myself when I was solo.”

Launchpad’s shoulders drooped as he turned to look at his husband. “But DW, honey, you don’t have to do that anymore. You’re not solo, you have a family.” He spoke softly.

Drake felt his heart get lodged in his throat, his protests and excuses dying on his tongue. A family. Yeah, he sure did have one of those. Worries and all. Sometimes just hearing the words aloud was enough to make him stop in his tracks. “I- I know…” He replied, feeling just the least bit misty-eyed.

His partner’s face melted into a fond smile at Drake’s expression. “I know you know. Just lemme take care of you right now, okay?” At Drake’s nod he retrieved the Saline to clean the wound. His free hand he intertwined with Drake’s. “Squeeze as hard as you want to when it starts to hurt. I promise you’re not gonna bother me, I’ve arm wrestled with Scrooge Mcduck and that man has an iron grip.” Launchpad joked.

DW snorted, “Are you telling me that Scrooge Mcduck the cushy old billionaire is stronger than me, Darkwing Duck?”

“An injured Darkwing Duck, yes. Remember he used to be a pretty wild adventurer, though if you’re that keen to arm wrestle him be my guest. Now hold still this is gonna sting.” Launchpad instructed, struggling to keep a straight face at Drake’s antics.

Drake rolled his eyes with fond exasperation but complied and made sure to keep still. He was plenty familiar with the process of cleaning wounds, but he still appreciated the hand Launchpad offered him.

Launchpad got to work disinfecting the wound with his free hand. Drake kept still and silent, but his mouth pressed into a thin hard line from the effort. Saline did a little more than just sting with an injury like this but it was far better than the alternative of letting anything get infected. His hand unconsciously grasped Launchpad’s a little bit tighter.

Drake breathed a sigh of relief as Launchpad finished, relaxing his shoulders he’d instinctively tensed in as the pain faded. He released Launchpad’s hand and offered his husband a reassuring smile that was only a tad shaky. Launchpad of course returning it with one of his own. It was times like these where he had never felt more relieved that Launchpad knew so much about first aid. Being around Scrooge Mcduck and co. gives you plenty of medical experience in the field it seems.

He watched as Launchpad dug through the med kit yet again in search of sutures and other supplies needed to close the wound. Launchpad located the items he needs and quips something about organizing the med kits better, so they don’t have to dig around as much. Drake finds himself agreeing with a laugh. Thankfully the painkillers had already begun to kick in, so when Launchpad gets to work the pain is a manageable level. The wound isn’t as bad as Launchpad had initially thought now that the bleeding had stopped, DW would only need three sutures from the looks of it.

Drake lets them fall into a comfortable silence, not wanting to distract Launchpad from the task of stitching him back together. It’s not till Launchpad has started dressing the wound that he speaks again.

“…Thanks LP. I’m sorry for being such a pain. I should’ve told you from the beginning.”

Launchpad looked up from where he’d kneeled to bandage the injury, his beak curled into a soft smile. “Yeah, you should’ve. I’m not mad at ya though. How come you didn’t tell me you got hurt? We’ve taken care of each other’s injuries plenty of times.” He asked.

Drake sighed, his eyes downcast. “I was going to tell you, I just… Do you remember that fight with Negaduck six months back at that old sports warehouse?”

His partner made a face, “Yeesh, yeah how could I forget. Gos and I found you barely conscious with the wind knocked outta you on the ground. ‘Scared the hell outta us.” Launchpad said, continuing to tend to DW’s wound as he spoke.

“…Yeah, I had fallen off the catwalk.” Drake grimaced at the reminder, “Point being, as out of it as I was, I still was awake enough to see you guys walk in-“ He sucked in a breath, “-Seeing you and Gosalyn’s faces, how terrified you both looked, knowing I caused it- It wasn’t a great feeling. Then tonight with Steelbeak, I thought about that and how I hated to make you worry, and I just clammed up. I thought I’d just take care of it on my own and everything’d be fine.” His beak quirked into a rueful smile, “Although that obviously didn’t work out now did it.”

Launchpad had finished securing the bandages and cupped Drake’s face gently, a tender expression on his face. “I worry more when you don’t tell me DW. I’m your sidekick and your husband, I’m here to support you. You don’t have to hide anything from me okay?”

The mallard’s rueful smile became more genuine as he leaned into Launchpad’s touch, “I know. Trust me, I don’t plan on pulling a move like that ever again… I love you.” Drake replied, taking advantage of Launchpad’s close proximity and giving him a peck on the beak.

“I love you too.” Launchpad said with one of his beautifully bright smiles, “Now, how are you feeling?”

“A lot better, taking care of injuries is much more enjoyable when I have my stupendous sidekick to help.” Drake said, a mirthful gleam in his eyes seeing Launchpad’s grin in response to his alliteration. “Although now I’m tired for real this time.”

“We ought to get home then. I’m sure Gos is waiting on us.”

Drake raised an eyebrow, “This is way past Gosalyn’s bedtime, do you really think she’s up?”

Launchpad looked at Drake with an amused expression, “DW it’s the weekend. Of course, she’s up. Probably watching one of those late-night movies she likes so much.”

Drake rolled his eyes, hiding a fondly exasperated smile, “Fair point. I recant my previous statement, she’s definitely up. We should send her off to bed as soon as we get home… Although…. I suppose I could be persuaded into sharing some microwave popcorn and finishing the movie with her provided I get to spend time with my two favorite people in the world.” He mused aloud, pretending to really think it over.

Launchpad let out a laugh, “Consider it a deal. As long as she’s up that is.” He joked.

“LP, this is our daughter. She’s up.”

The duo rose, ready to head home after Launchpad cleaned up the leftover supplies and threw away the used gauze and surgical thread. His husband insisted upon carrying him to the chair set that would transport them home to 537 Avian Way, Drake in no way complaining. As ‘luck’ would have it, Gosalyn was wide awake and delighted at the prospect of finishing the movie with popcorn, especially if it meant she wouldn’t be sent to bed early. The Mallard-Mcquack family found themselves curled up on the couch, a bag of popcorn in Gosalyn’s lap. Launchpad continued to ask her about what they had missed in the plot of the movie while on patrol. Meanwhile, Drake had fallen asleep shortly after sitting down, exhausted from the events of the night and feeling secure so close to his family. After the movie Launchpad planned to move Drake up to their actual bed, but for now DW seemed content to snore peacefully by Gosalyn and Launchpad.

#drakepad #darkwing duck #drake mallard #launchpad mcquack #gosalyn mallard #mine #fic

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