Author's Note: So I posted this story a few years ago, and due to various personal issues it got abandoned right before the conclusions. But now I'm back, I think my skills as a writer have improved, and I still know exactly how this is supposed to end. With all of these in mind, I have decided to edit, improve and repost this, and hopefully you guys will like it even more.
Now, without further ado, on with the story:
A green suitcase covered in kitschy floral patterns was open on the bed, waiting to receive the last few items of clothing. Dot, however, was busy tugging at the belt loops of her faded denim jeans, in an effort to keep them up over the slight curve of her hips. "Stupid hip-huggers..." She carefully folded the last of her shirts, and placed them in the old green suitcase, with the others. Her fingers trembled slightly as she smoothed the soft cotton, looking around her room for the last time. The posters on the wall brought flashes of her childhood and adolescence to mind. Lethal Weapon, Mission Impossible, some boy-band who she never really liked but had stuck over the lilac walls to cover up where her brother had somehow managed to spill glow-in-the-dark paint. She crossed over to her wardrobe, and opened the door. Her reflection stared back at her, and so did a picture of her six-year-old self. She was older now, and taller, but there was still a sweet, naive... cuteness. She'd grown up to be quite an attractive young 'toon, but carried herself well and behaved like a lady.
"Like a princess."
Spending her childhood in a room in a tower, encountering strange beings and stranger directors, she chuckled to herself. She really had been a princess. She reasoned with herself that she still was, really, although in a slightly different way.
"You sure you want to do this?"
Dot jumped as the voice cut through her thoughts. She spun round, looking at her brother. He stood in her doorway, looking more anxious than she'd ever seen him. She rolled her eyes and hugged him tight, familiar warmth comforting both of them.
"I've got to do this, Yakko."
"I know." he sighed, resting his chin on the top of her head. Of course, for every inch she'd grown, he'd grown too, so he was still about a foot taller than her and it looked like that was how they were both going to stay. Dot didn't mind, though. She looked up at him, in black slacks and a brown jersey. He was still as quick and witty as ever, and all time had done to him was give him a bigger vocabulary and more chances to use it. "I hate the thought of you leaving, sis."
"Oh, we've been through this." She sighed in frustration, closing the lid of her suitcase and putting it with two others. "I can't stay here, Yakko. I just can't. All my life I've been The Warner Sister. I want more than that. I want a name of my own. I want a life of my own. I love you and Wakko, but I want to go out and be my own person." She looked at him, exasperated, before picking up her bags and walking towards the door of the tower. "This is a once in a life-time opportunity. Scholarship to TAPA is something you don't turn down."
"I know!" Yakko called, running after her. He grabbed her shoulders and looked at her, smiling. "I'm just gonna miss you, that's all."
They smiled at each other, but were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"All aboard for the last train to Toon Town Academy of Performing Arts" drifted through the door, in a noticeably scouse accent. Dot laughed, and pulled open the door, to hug Wakko, who was leaning on the railing outside and grinning at her.
"We're all so grown up." She thought, looking on as her brothers carried her suitcases down to the car. Yakko, twenty-three years old, was now composing and writing songs for the studio, plus making a tidy salary on the side from writing children's books... Wakko, twenty years old, was making a name for himself in the live entertainment circuit, and was unofficially living with his girlfriend of two years, a cat-toon called Tellulah. And even she, Dot, the youngest at eighteen years old, was now on her way to the Toon Town Academy for Performing Arts, one of the most prestigious universities in Toon Town when it came to specialising in performance. She was finally going to step out of her brothers' shadows.
The car ride was as fun as they always were, with arguments over the music and which way they were going. The entrance into Toon Town was, by nature, hectic, as 'toons came both ways on both sides of the road, and sometimes the ceiling. But it wasn't until they arrived at the gates of TAPA that the Warner siblings realised that, from this moment on, they would have parted ways. As Dot stepped out of the car, she felt a little weak at the knees. She looked at the majestic building, taking in the smooth stone and tall towers. It was every bit like a medieval castle, but with modern additions like a swimming pool and satellite dishes. As she stared at her surroundings, she felt her stomach back-flip.
"Hey princess!" Wakko grinned from behind the trunk of the car. "Don't forget your luggage."
She smiled as she walked to the back of the car, but Yakko grabbed her by the shoulders again, and grinned at her.
"Now, sister sibling," he smiled cheekily, "there are a few things I want you to know. First, although this is a great honour, it is also a great danger. There will be many things at this place which will tempt you, but I know I raised a princess, not a swine."
"Yakko..." Dot blushed, noticing some students were milling around the grounds. They were also looking and pointing. This was not the kind of impression she wanted to make. "Quit it. You sound like you're my dad or something. Look, I promise I'll be on best behaviour. No experimenting with anything."
"Good. You had better mean that." He sniffed, handing her the suitcases from the trunk of the car. "And watch out for the guys. They only have one thing on their minds."
"Believe us." Wakko chuckled, putting his hand on her shoulder. "We know from personal experience."
"You mean you have minds?" She smiled in mock surprise, but Yakko shook his head.
"No, I'm being serious. An attractive young girl like you..."
"Oh stop it, Yakko."
"I'm just saying. If you get in any trouble or you need us for anything, we can be right over here, and..."
"No!" She gasped, backing away from her brothers and dropping her cases on the sidewalk. "No, absolutely not. Look, guys, please... Just promise you won't turn up here, you won't create a scene... I don't need you guys reminding people that I'm the sweet little Warner Sister when that's exactly the image I came here to get away from. Please, let me handle this my way. If I call you, and I ask you to come, you can consider yourselves invited. But I'm eighteen now, and I need to start being an adult. I need to do this on my own. Please?"
She looked up at the two of them with large, honest eyes. The Warner Brothers might have thought of protesting, but they bit back any comments and nodded.
"We'll miss you, kiddo." Yakko mumbled, pulling her into a hug again.
"Yeah. Don't forget to write." Wakko hugged her too, a sheepish smile on his face. "Or call, email, text, whatever, for any reason, any time. Especially gossip. Tellulah said she wanted all the dirt on the stars of tomorrow." He hugged her tighter, sticking his tongue out at her as she moved away and picked up her cases.
Dot smiled at her brothers, and said goodbye one last time, before taking a deep breath and walking through the gates of TAPA.
"This is my realm now. New dragons, new knights... and a new princess."
Wakko beamed as he looked at himself in the mirror, admiring the new jumper that fitted his reflection perfectly. Like his siblings, he had, over time, lost the look he coined on their show, instead opting for clothes that served a more practical day-to-day use. He himself had grown fond of a button-up shirt (although, still blue) a black leather jacket and jeans. But now he was wearing a fleecy zip-up hoody, which was a vibrant blue with a red hood, and was possibly one of the most comfortable items of clothing he had. Spinning round, he wiggled his eyebrows at the grey shorthair cat 'toon who was watching him from the couch, her long, dark curls of hair hanging in front of her anxious blue eyes.
"You like it?" She smiled, a slight southern accent to her wavering voice.
"I love it, 'Lu." He smiled, wrapping his arms round her and kissing her.
"Oh, good, I'm so glad." She smiled, looking relieved. "I thought it might be a little too odd-looking..."
"`Too odd looking`?" Wakko repeated, sinking back into the couch. "It's me. I like odd. I love odd. I am odd!"
"Yes, but you're not odd-looking." Tellulah smiled and kissed him again, this time for a little longer. She sank down next to him, so that they were both curled up, staring at each other. "So, have you had a good birthday?"
"Well..." Wakko mused, resting his chin on one hand, and holding her delicately gloved fingers with the other. "You're here; we are very much in love..." He kissed her again, and she giggled, her long grey tail flicking playfully. "I got a phone call from Dot earlier, wishing me happy twenty-first. I think she was between classes 'cos she seemed in a hurry." He explained, although he had a feeling that wasn't strictly true. "So all in all, yes. I think this has been a very wonderful birthday."
"What about Yakko? What did he get you?"
"Oh... umm..." Wakko broke Tellulah's eye contact, scratching his neck awkwardly. "Well..."
"Didn't he get you anything?" Tellulah sounded shocked. Wakko, however, hadn't been shocked in the slightest to discover his brother had forgotten his birthday. It wasn't the sort of thing he'd usually do, but since Dot left, and his publisher rejected his last few manuscripts... not to mention the musical director being less than pleased with his last few recording sessions... Yakko hadn't been his usual self.
"Well." She sat up, glaring at the door as if expecting Yakko to walk in at any moment. "I think that's downright rude. I've got a good mind to-"
"No, 'Lu, please." Wakko grabbed her shoulders, and pulled her back down next to him, his eyes full of concern. "Look, you and Yakko make up two thirds of the most important people in my life. Now you get on just fine with Dot so there's no problem there, but if you can't get on with my brother then it would present me with a problem."
"I know sweetie, but for him to forget your birthday?"
"He's had a bad couple of weeks." Wakko lowered his voice, shooting glances at the back of the door in case Yakko chose that moment to walk in. "You've seen him since Dot left. Anyone can tell he's been having a few problems."
"Hmm..." Tellulah softened a little, but soon shook herself out of it. "Even so, you're his brother and if he can't remember something as simple as your birthday, I wonder if he cares about anyone but himself."
"Don't say that!" Wakko sat up, looking offended. "All my childhood, Yakko was there looking after me and Dot. He was the one raising us, teaching us what we needed to know and taking charge. I think, after giving up most of his childhood to look after us, he's allowed to forget a few birthdays, don't you?"
Tellulah looked at Wakko with her large blue eyes, shocked at this outburst. After what seemed like a long silence, she pushed herself up onto her elbows, her head bowed.
"You're right. I'm sorry. I didn't-"
"Forget it." Wakko cleared his throat and stood up, looking a little shaken. He grabbed his coffee mug from the table, and moved it to the kitchen. Tellulah sat in silence, listening to his movements. After a while, his voice drifted back to her. "It's been a tough week for all of us, really. Especially after that mess at TAPA..."
Wakko sighed as he remembered the previous Sunday afternoon. Yakko and Wakko had decided that after two weeks of not hearing anything from their sister, they would go and check in on her, just briefly, to make sure she was ok and didn't need a hand with anything. They had wandered over to the reception desk, taking in the very grand hall, with high ceilings and tall windows, and walls covered in expensive-looking oil paintings. This is where legends such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Simba were said to have trained. Disney wasn't usually Wakko's thing, but even he had been little upset when he'd first seen the "father don't leave me" scene.
It certainly seemed like a particularly fancy drama school. The students who read lines in the hall were just that little bit more convincing. The ones who practiced dance steps on the lawn outside were just that little bit more disciplined. And the receptionist in the office was just that little bit more condescending.
"Can I help you?" She was a rather plump, rather old, grey haired and horse-faced lady. She was a 'toon, of course, but there was nothing funny about her.
"Uh, we're here to see Dot Warner?" Yakko smiled at her, but for all the good it did, he could have thrown a pie in her face.
"Wait here." She barked before getting up from her wheeled office chair and shuffling slowly across the office. Yakko grimaced and turned to Wakko.
"There was a panty shot I did not want to see."
"Eew, what were you looking there for?"
"Sue me; it's a force of habit." Yakko grinned and winked roguishly at his brother. "Besides, with a surface area that big it's hard to miss."
"Thanks for that nightmare fodder..." Wakko muttered, running a hand through his hair.
"Hey... Hey guys! Yakko! Wakko!" They heard a familiar voice echoing through the hall, and looked up to see a pink bunny in a yellow "TAPA" jersey running towards them.
"Babs!" They grinned, as both of them were hugged by their old acquaintance.
"How's things?" Yakko grinned, looking her up and down. Taller, older but just as smiley as she ever was on her show, Babs was a sight for sore eyes.
"Oh, same old." She smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "Working for a degree, trying to keep up with the workload and still have a social life."
"You and Buster still together?" Wakko grinned. Babs seemed so much more mature now, so much more intellectual than the bumbling pink rabbit from Tiny Toons.
"Yeah." Yakko grinned. "Last I heard you two were at it like-"
"If you finish that sentence, I will tie your ears in a knot." Babs scowled, her eyes flashing like cold steel, before melting into laughter at Yakko's stunned expression. Then again, Wakko mused, perhaps not.
"Buster and I have been... on again, off again for a while." Babs shrugged, looking a little sheepish. There was a tense silence while everyone tried to think of a way to get around this obviously quite tender subject. "So what are you two doing here?" Babs smiled, after what felt like way too long.
"Just visiting our dear sister sibling." Yakko grinned.
"Oh! I haven't seen Dot much, but she seems to be settling in just fine."
"Hey Babs!" A rather snotty sounding dog 'toon ran up to Babs, eager to get her attention. "I just found out that... Oh my goodness!" He sniffed, looking at Yakko and Wakko. "You're... you're the Warner Brothers! Oh, I loved your show when I was a kid! I'm Sidney, and... Hey, guys!" He yelled over to a group in the corner, who all looked rather amused. "Guys, the Warner Brothers are here!"
"Um, yeah, Hi... Sidney, was it?" Yakko smiled, but it was only just big enough to hide the look of total disgust. Recently, Yakko had not been in the best of moods, and Wakko could sense that dealing with fans was possibly something his brother couldn't deal with right now.
"Look, Sidney." Wakko cut in, trying to keep the peace. "We don't want any fuss; we're just here to see our sister."
"Your sister?" Sidney sniffed, as the group of people approached. "Oh my goodness! Dot is the Dot Warner? We thought it was just coincidence! Man, I've been acting alongside the Warner Sister for two whole weeks!"
Wakko grimaced. Maybe he should have let Yakko talk.
"Hey, can you still sing the songs from your show?" Someone yelled out in the crowd.
"Yeah, do the geography one!"
"No, Variety Speak was my favourite!"
Wakko looked at Yakko, who shrugged.
"Can't let the public down, Wakk. Besides, what harm could it do?"
As it turns out, it did a lot of harm. Wakko, who had opted to sit out and chat with Babs, had seen Dot enter the main hall, looking very confused as groups of students crowded round Yakko for his famous geography song, "The Nations of the World". Just as he reached Burundi, Dot spotted him. Her look changed from confusion to surprise and then to anger, which only deepened when Sidney saw her and yelled out "Hey guys, it's the Warner Sister!"
Yakko had stopped dead, slightly taken aback by his sister's glowering stare. Wakko had never seen her anywhere near this angry, and was very much in fear for his life, but all the same he followed her when she gestured for both of them to go outside. No sooner had they left the hall and the door closed behind them than she turned on them.
"What are you doing here?" She hissed, looking angrily from one to the other. "I made you swear you wouldn't come unless I invited you. I'm getting along fine and then you two buffoons just come storming in and ruin what I had. Now, thanks to you idiots, everyone knows that I was the Warner Sister."
"Hey, there's no need to get insulting." Yakko had fired back, but Wakko was quick to step in and attempt to defuse the situation.
"Look, we just came to wish you well, was all. Make sure you weren't missing anything." Wakko looked at her steadily, and she seemed to calm a little. "Now, we didn't know it'd bother you this much. I'm sorry. We'll just go, now." He smiled, and stepped back. Dot softened slightly, and smiled appreciatively. She had probably been about to apologise, when Yakko piped up.
"No, hold on, Wakk." Yakko growled, glaring at his sister, who returned the look with just as much force. "Sis, we were doing a good thing. You can't just expect us not to worry. You can't be angry at us for worrying."
"Well I am." She continued to glare, defiantly. "I don't want to be the Warner Sister any more. I want to be Dot, who can be independent of her lug head brothers."
"Hey!" Wakko didn't like to be insulted, least of all when all he'd tried to do was keep the peace.
"Well, I don't know who you think you are but the Warner Sister never acted like this, you stuck up brat." Yakko spat.
"I'm not stuck up." Dot retaliated, a little hurt by this remark. "I just assumed my brothers would be able to keep such a simple promise."
"Not stuck up? Hah!" Yakko laughed. "This from "Princess Angelina"? Hah. Some princess."
"Yakko, Dot, let's just calm down..."
"No, Wakko, someone needs to tell her." Yakko pushed his brother aside, and pointed at Dot, his hand just a little too close to her face. "You never were a princess, you never will be. Reality check time, sis. I can put up with almost anything from my siblings. Heck, over the years I have. And I've accepted it, and accepted you because that's what we were. Siblings. But if you aren't the Warner Sister any more, then I guess I don't have to put up with your ego. I can treat you like I would any other snob who's too self obsessed to care about anyone else."
Wakko raised his eyebrows. Everyone knew Yakko could be scathing at times, but he'd never be outright rude, especially not to him or Dot. She seemed genuinely hurt as she sniffed back tears, turning her back on Yakko, who was still fuming.
"You know what, fine." She muttered, tears choking her voice. "But we both know who's acting childishly here. I know what this is. You're looking for an excuse to yell at me, to punish me. To make me seem like the little kid you still want me to be." A note of anger crept into her voice, and it grew steadily, until she was almost shouting. "But I'm not a kid, Yakko. I'm not that little girl. I don't need my brothers looking out for me. And if you're behaving like this, then maybe I don't want you looking out for me either."
And with that, Dot had gone back to the hall of TAPA, probably to find Babs, and Yakko had returned to the car. The drive home had been silent.
Wakko pulled out of his reverie by Tellulah stroking his cheek.
"Honey?"
"Oh... sorry... flashback." He smiled, awkwardly.
"I was saying, are you staying here again tonight or are you coming back to mine?"
"I think I'd better stay here." He sighed, running his hands through his hair. "I don't want to leave Yakko on his own right now. He wouldn't say it, but I know he's upset."
"You're a sweetheart." Tellulah whispered, nuzzling his red nose with her own petite pink one. "It's a shame though. I was hoping on giving you your other... present."
"But you already gave me..." Wakko trailed off as he caught the meaningful look Tellulah was giving him. He broke into a smile and wiggled his eyebrows, yapping playfully. Tellulah giggled again, wriggling as he pinched and tickled her. She looked up at the clock on the wall and sighed.
"I should probably get home."
"Alright..." Wakko sighed exaggeratedly, pouting. "I suppose I'll just have to wait for that present. Come on, I'll walk you to your car."
They left the tower, descended the ladder and walked across the lot to Tellulah's car, which was parked by the gates.
She and Wakko kissed each other goodbye, and Wakko turned and left, just as Yakko entered the lot. Tellulah noticed he wasn't completely sober.
"Hi 'Lu." He smiled, leaning on the hood of her car.
"Hi." She smiled, but didn't make eye contact.
"You heading home?"
"Yeah, it's getting late."
"I'll say. You know there's something I don't get, what's a cheeky little kitten like you doing with a goober like my little brother?"
"I care about him. I love him. Which is more than I can say for some." she muttered the last part, causing Yakko's drooping ears to drag themselves up.
"Beg pardon? Could you mumble your accusations a little louder?"
"It's just you forgot his birthday, Yakko."
"Did I? Dang, I knew there was something..."
"Your brother is one of the sweetest, most kind-natured people I've ever seen. But if you ask me, you're starting to take advantage and you better come up with something special to win him back."
"So I'll get him movie tickets or something. Why do you care?" He walked closer to her, and Tellulah had to stop herself from gagging at the smell of alcohol he brought with him. "You don't honestly like him, do you?"
"I love him." She glared at him, her eyes shining like shards of ice.
"Pfft." Yakko rolled his eyes, leaning on the car next to her. "Love doesn't last. All that happy ever after stuff might sell for Disney, but in the real world, there's no such thing. Take, for example, my dear old parents who, one day, dropped me and my sibs outside a care home in Toon Town. Were we told why? No. But just one day before, we had been labouring under the impression that parents loved their kids. Ours sure didn't." He looked at her, but his eyes swam blearily. Tellulah's scowl changed in to a look of shock. How drunk was he?
"And that's not all!" Yakko continued, his voice getting louder. "No, no... My sister, whom I raised and cared for, and loved so very deeply... My sister told me not one week ago that she hated me and that she did not want to be my sister any more. I loved my job, but I'm now in fear of losing that, and if there's anything else that I love, it's probably destined for the same miserable future. So... What was my point?"
"I don't know, Yakko, but I think you should get back to the Water Tower..."
"Aha! Yes, thank you!" Yakko waved a finger in the air, his voice still getting louder. Tellulah looked around hurriedly, hoping no one would see them together. Not when he was in this state. She tried to hush him, but Yakko carried on anyway. "My home, which I have lived in for... years now, may not remain mine for much longer. If I can't compose for the studio, I'm not making them money and if I'm not making them money then they don't want to know. There is no love in this world, everyone just takes what they want and don't care about what comes next or who they have to tread on." Yakko turned and stamped his foot, but slipped on the curb of the sidewalk, and fell over. Tellulah gasped, and hurried to help him up, trying not to breathe in too much.
She threw his arm over her shoulder and tried to help him up, but Yakko had other plans. He gripped her shoulder and looked at her.
"Kiss it better, sweetie?"
"Yakko... get off..." Tellulah flapped at his hands, but was too flustered to think clearly. His grip just got tighter and the more she pulled away the more he tried to grab.
"Come on... If you like Wakko, I'll be ten times better; he's just a chip off the ol' block..."
"Yakko, please, let me go!"
"Tellulah, sweetie..."
"Yakko please..." Tellulah began to sob, her eyes wide with fear as he grabbed her other wrist and pulled her towards him. She couldn't see a way out of it, she was scared blind...
"Hey, get off her!"
Tellulah spun round, and nearly collapsed out of sheer relief as she realised Wakko had come back, and was pulling her away from his brother. He hands were shaking as she stood behind him, silent and shocked. Wakko didn't have his customary grin. His eyes were dark, and his shoulders shook with rage. Yakko looked down on his brother, blearily.
"Ah come on, we were just having a little fun..."
"Fun? Fun? Are you off your head or something?" Wakko fumed, advancing towards his brother and glaring hard into his eyes. "How could you even think about doing that? Doing it to anyone, let alone your brother's girlfriend."
Yakko tried to return the glare, but looked down at the floor, and put his face in his hands.
"Wakko, I don't feel too good..."
"I don't care!" Wakko shoved his brother's shoulder, forcing him to look up. "You should feel like the jerk that you are! I've been cutting you slack lately, but there is a difference between being a flake and being an emotional wreck, Yakko. I don't know what's going through your head to make you act like this, but I don't think I can handle it."
Yakko looked at him, his eyes still slipping in and out of focus.
"What... what are you saying?"
"Man, I've been looking out for you, looking after you and fixing your mistakes for weeks now. You need to sort your head out and I can't help with that. Maybe I could have, but after what I've just seen..." Wakko looked at his brother for a second, a terrible silence as a million different phrases and emotions raced through his mind. After a while, he sighed, and looked away. He spoke quietly, but clearly. "I don't know you any more, Yakko. I don't think you know, either. I'm staying with 'Lu tonight. Maybe for the rest of the week, too. Heck, maybe forever. Give me a call when you get sorted out, yeah?"
Wakko pushed past him and leapt into the driver's seat of Tellulah's car. She gladly walked over to the passenger door, on the other side of the car from Yakko. Yakko stood, staring blankly. He didn't yell, or plead... he didn't even put up a fight. He just stared, an immense sadness in his eyes as Wakko and Tellulah drove away, out of the Lot, out of the street, and out of his life. He stumbled blindly back to the tower, and shut the door behind him. He made it half-way across the living room when angry tears began to roll down his cheeks. He leant against the wall and slipped down to the floor, covering his face with his hands. What had happened to him? Going out, getting drunk, and picking fights... And Tellulah... Unable to hold it in any more, he sobbed, his body shaking as tears gushed across his cheeks. The clocks ticked over to midnight and Yakko remained, sat against the wall, crying until he couldn't cry any more. He dragged himself up to his feet, gazing around the silent tower. Empty. His eye fell on the yellow plastic phone sat on the kitchen counter. His breath came unevenly, still forming sobbing sounds, as he dialled the only number he could think of.
The ringing buzzed in his ear, until it passed over to voicemail. Taking a deep breath, he tried to steady his voice a little.
"Hey, it's me... Yakko. Look, I know it's late, but I'm... I'm kind of messed up right now. I just need someone... I don't know, someone to talk to. Call me back when you get this message. Thanks..." He was about to hang up, when he heard a voice on the other end of the line.
"Yakko? What's up?"
"Babs... Hi..."
"Yakko, what the hell?"
"Did I wake you?"
"Well, yeah, but... you sound awful, what's wrong?"
Yakko licked his lips, trying to work out how to tell her that he'd ruined his entire life.
"I... It's gone. It's all gone, Babs. I had everything I could ever want, you know? And my own stupid pride made me lose it all." with his free hand, he pressed the heel of his palm into his eyes, worried that there were more tears coming.
"What do you mean?"
"I've been in trouble at work lately. More than I was letting on to Wakko and Dot. I don't think I've actually been paid for a song in the last two months. Money's been a bit of a problem for me... And they hate me Babs. They actually hate me!"
"Who? Wait, Wakko and Dot?" Babs' voice was utterly sympathetic, which somehow made him feel worse. He honestly didn't feel he deserved sympathy. He could hear her walking around as she talked, background noise of Toon Town being filtered out as she closed windows. "Oh Yakko, they'd never hate you."
"They do! And I deserve it." He bit his lip, feeling an icy fear grip his heart. It was like it was squeezing all the blood out, and with it making him confess to all the things he'd done.
"Yakko-"
"No, I do! I was so afraid of losing them... All the stuff we had when we were kids, it was perfect. But they're grown up now. I... I was awful. I've actually been trying to make them stay with me, take away any other option. I..." His voice wavered as the familiar ache crept into his throat. He sniffed back tears. The end of the line was silent.
"Yakko." Babs spoke resolutely, taking control of him. "I want you to have a bath or a shower, or just wash your face. Do something to freshen yourself up. Then I want you to go to bed. You're tired and it won't help matters. I'll be over tomorrow morning and we can talk about it all face to face, alright?"
He managed to sniff an agreement, before putting on his brave face.
"Thanks Babs. You're awesome."
"I know." She joked, but her voice was still heavy with concern. "Now go on. Freshen up and get to bed, you hear?"
"Yes, ma'am." He smiled slightly as he put the phone down and turned off the living-room light. The Tower was silent again.