Okay then, here it is. My random piece of self indulgence while I work on other projects which will not be finding their way into fan fiction.
Inspiration is a funny thing indeed. I still don't know the reason why I became a fan of this show way back when, especially considering I never even saw all of the very limited number of episodes.
Well, neither here nor there I suppose. Hope at least someone finds enjoyment in this fiction at any rate.
Note: I never actually saw the episode with Buzz in full (in English anyway). As a result I don't know exactly what the place Buzz was staying in was called. It looked governmental however, so I let my imagination run with that. Same goes for the man who seemed to be in charge of him. For lack of a name, I called him Al. Anyone who can set me straight on these points, feel free. I may not change the story, but it would be nice to know :)
Disclaimer: No officer, I do not own, nor do I claim to own the Mighty Ducks. They belong to Disney, a conglomerate I have no desire to challenge.
Ties that Bind
Chapter1
On most days, Anaheim was a sunny paradise. Agreeable temperatures, a decided lack of humidity as well as a dependable water supply made most days ideal. Its citizens could most often be found out of doors, clad for perpetual summer in only shorts and a tank top. The most popular drinks were iced. So accustomed to their ideal weather were Anaheim's citizens that when the odd rainy or blustery day came about, they very nearly threw themselves into a panic.
It was an amusing thing to watch.
The young blond boy pressed against the glass window smiled then laughed to himself as he watched a pot bellied man chase his tumbling beach towel down the center of Anaheim's main outdoor shopping mall. The storm had come upon the city suddenly, and within an hour the sky had turned from a welcoming clear blue to an ominous gray. With the first thunderclap dogs had run whimpering from their owners. Soon after the owners followed as a downpour of rain drenched the entire city. The mall shops had become a temporary haven for the dispossessed people. All of them dripping small lakes of water onto normally dry carpet, much to the horror of shop owners.
The comic shop where Buzz had been browsing was no exception to unexpected visitors as the small bell above the door rang out and four soaked figures hurried inside, eager to be out from under the downpour.
"Well, if we have to take refuge, I can't think of a better place. Thrash, Mookie, how's it going guys?"
Buzz's ears perked up at the familiar voice.
"Wish I could say business is slamming my feathered friend, but I'd be lying." the well-pierced young man behind the counter answered.
"Oh man, that bites. What do ya say I help you out? Say, a hundred dollars worth of new reading material, give or take?"
"Dive, don't you think that's a little much?"
"Awhh, come on Wing. We're loaded, a hundred bucks is nothing."
"That's not the point Dive."
Buzz peeked out from between the window and the front display and broke into a wide smile as two member's of his favorite team argued the pros and cons of good spending habits.
"You know," he piped up, "the latest issue of 'Rockman: Unearthed' just came out."
The blond duck turned from his older brother and looked down. "Buzz! Hey little dude." He slapped the kid a high five before his expression turned hopeful. "You're not pulling my feathers are ya? I've been waiting for that comic, they kept delaying it."
Buzz pointed to the front display he had just come from. "Over there, second shelf, third from the right." Nosedive hustled to the front, nearly upsetting a game display in the process.
"Dive, come on." Wildwing protested half-heartedly. It was hard to say no to his brother when he became all gleeful.
"It's a collector's item Wing. Practically an investment." Nosedive countered before becoming lost in modern mythology.
"I've noticed they're always collector's items." Wildwing grumbled. Finally done wringing his hair out, Duke came up to his leader's side and clapped him on the shoulder.
"We're stuck here anyway Wildwing. Let the kid play." Turning to Buzz, who stood watching the ducks conversation with rapt attention, he offered a sidelong smile. "Hey lil' smart guy. How ya doin'?"
Buzz smiled. "I'm good. Really good."
Duke grinned then looked around, suddenly frowning. "You on your own kid?" he asked. The last time the team had encountered this genius child, he had successfully escaped his room at a government facility to come meet them. He had then been promptly kidnapped by Draganus. Granted, they had not seen hide nor hair of the terrible lizard since their last face off, but still, better safe than sorry.
But Buzz didn't seemed fazed by the question. "Nah, I'm not alone, but it's looks like I'm gonna have to wait until the storms over before I can meet up with her. What about you guys? Are there bad guys around?" he asked, eagerly.
Wildwing chuckled. Buzz reminded him of a younger Nosedive at times. "No, just escaping the pond for a while. Getting some fresh air." He gazed out at the darkened clouds. "Or at least we were."
"I guess even hero's need some time off huh?" Buzz said. Suddenly something seemed to catch his attention and he peered up at Wildwing, watching him intensely. "Somethings different about you." he said.
Wildwing just stood there looking confused. Finally the boy seemed to find what he was looking for and his instense expression melted away. "No mask!" he cried out happily. "Hey, I've never seen you without your mask. You look cool."
Wildwing rubbed the back of his neck nervously and chuckled. "Thanks, I guess. I still have it though, just in case."
Buzz nodded as if that made sense to him and his grin spread even farther as he spotted the last duck in the party, who was trying to disappear behind a display of sunglasses.
"Hi Mallory!" he practically shouted to the redhead. Her hiding place discovered, she sighed and walked over.
"Hi Buzz." she deadpanned. Duke elbowed her in the ribs.
"Come on sweetheart, you can do better than that for your number one fan." he whispered. Mallory growled at him. Regardless of their popularity, Mallory had never done well with fame. Fan's annoyed her greatly. It was a great testament to Wildwings leadership and ability to handle a crowd of crazed human's that she had not gone after them with a hockey stick...yet.
Nonetheless, Buzz was a good fan, as fans went, and for all his brains, he was just a kid. It wouldn't hurt her to be nice. "It's nice to see you again Buzz." She almost meant it. "How are..um..things?" she finished lamely. Duke and Wildwing caught each other's eyes and then simultaneously rolled them to the heavens.
But if Buzz noticed the insincerity, he didn't let on. "Good, they're really, really good!" he enthused. Emerging from the comic display, Nosedive laughed.
"What, you win the lottery or something?" he asked.
"Nope. I got adopted!" he announced proudly, emphasizing his words by thumbing himself in the chest.
The four ducks looked at each other cautiously. Granted, they didn't know much about this planet's, or for that matter, even this countries customs regarding orphaned children, but Buzz was without a doubt a child prodigy. A prodigy the government had under it's wing. Its very protective and solicitous wing.
"So, uh...how did 'hat happen 'xactly?" Duke ventured.
"Well...I sorta tracked down my older sister. It's complicated. You know, computer stuff." he said with the arrogant sort of dismissiveness that set's ones teeth, or beak, on edge. He continued.
"The institute didn't want to let me go of course, but Al helped us out. Plus," and here he grinned mischievously, "Lia had some dirt on the higher ups she dug up. She's nineteen so she was old enough to adopt me legally. Al gets to check in on us whenever he wants to, but Lia doesn't mind, so it's cool."
"I take it Lia is your sister." Wildwing said, and Buzz nodded enthusiastically.
"Sound's like you're happy kid." Duke commented. The blond boy grinned, then shoved his hands into his pockets and attempted to shrug nonchalantly as the bell above the door rang again, signaling another refugee from the storm.
"It's cool ya know. At least she cooks better than the Institute. But she won't let me eat hotdogs, so that sucks."
"I'm not letting you eat something even top scientists can't identify." came a feminine voice. Oddly, it seemed to be coming from under large bulky blue tarp with legs. The new creature startled Mallory so much she stepped back onto Nosedive's foot. The blond duck yelped in pain.
Meanwhile, the blue tarp was swaying unsteadily towards the front counter, where Mookie and Thrash were hurriedly pulling their soda cans and uneaten food out of the way. The creature took one last uncertain step on thin legs and small feet before settling the bulk of it's weight on the counter top. An audible sigh of relief was heard.
"Sorry I'm late Buzz. I was at the used bookstore when the rain came down. So much of their stock was outdoors the employees couldn't get it all in safely." the voice said from under the tarp.
"It's okay. I was talking with my friends. But it looks like you got a lot." Buzz said as the tarp began to move and a young woman with hair the same shade as his own emerged. But Duke noted that was where the similarities ended. Her eyes were a clear green as opposed to her brothers eager brown. Beneath the rain-drenched sleeveless top and blue skirt, her small frame was lithe, it almost had a flowing aspect to it. This was in direct contrast to Buzz, who at eleven was already beginning to form a protruding belly, characteristic of his sedentary lifestyle at the Institute. Although, Duke had to admit the kid looked a bit healthier. Perhaps because of less junk food and new influences?
Buzz was already trying to get beneath the tarp, trying to see what his sister had brought. She smiled down at him.
"They gave me few freebies for helping them save their stock. Including..." she trailed off as she turned and tried to flip the tarp over what now appeared to be a stack of thick books. But with the added elevation of the counter it was a bit too tall for her. Wildwing pulled it over when her arms wouldn't quite reach.
"Thanks." she murmured, not even noticing who had helped her as she searched for the elusive book. She pulled it out from the stack and handed it to Buzz. "This." she said proudly. He read the front.
" 'The History of the Laser: More Interesting Than You Think.' Hey, cool!" he said. "Thanks."
Once again, a small smile found its way onto her features. "I found plenty more to keep us busy for the next few weeks, but I'm afraid I bought more than we can handle in one go." she said, eying the stack worriedly.
Buzz looked at the stack, and then to the ducks, then back to the stack. He smiled. "My friends can help us. Right guys?" he said, gazing up at Wildwing hopefully.
"You shouldn't volunteer people Buzz. It's rude." The young woman said, coming up behind him and dragging him back a little by his collar.
"It's not a problem." Wildwing spoke up. "I take it your Lia?"
She had to work to meet his eyes. He was at least a head taller than her. She nodded. "I am."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Wildwing." he said. Her expression was not one he was used to seeing, especially on women. Usually there a bit of flustering, combined with that very unique thing humans did, which was blushing. Blushing fascinated him. Because of their feathers, ducks did not share this particular emotional sign, a fact which had helped him strengthen the impression of being stoic. Many of the things female fans did embarrassed him greatly, and it was nice to keep that from showing at times.
The expression Lia seemed to be wearing however, was one of polite amusement coupled with a tinge of what looked like resignation. "I'm fairly familiar with you." she said. "Buzz talks about you, all of you...ahh...well, quite a bit actually." she finished with a weary but genuine smile.
"I should thank you for taking care of him last year. I really never thought I would see him again, and if you hadn't acted when you did, I never would have." she said, hugging Buzz from behind. The boy let her hug him for a moment before squirming out of her grasp.
"Ugh, don't get mushy Lia." he complained.
"Sorry."
From the sidelines, Duke cleared his throat. "So, ah, can we give you a lift sweetheart?"
Lia looked confused. "A lift? Why...oh yes, the books. No it's not necessary. We only live a mile away."
Mallory snorted. "And your telling me you and that shrimp are going to haul those back-breakers a whole mile? Let me guess, you don't have a car?"
"Well, no."
"Then don't be stupid and let us give you a lift."
"Mallory..." Wildwing warned. But Lia didn't seem offended. She looked to the team's leader.
"If you don't mind?" she said.
"No problem."
"Your sure?"
"He's sure." Nosedive chirped up as he hopped over and grabbed six or seven heavy books from the teetering stack. "Trust me, Wildwings' not nearly as intimidating as everyone on this planet seems to think he is."
He leaned in close to Buzz and Lia. "He sings in the shower." he whispered, then almost simultaneously ducked a clap to the ears by his older brother as he bolted for the exit.
Mallory and Duke laughed as Wildwing chased down his younger brother, somehow managing to relieve him of his heavy cargo and swat him on the head in one fluid motion. All before the younger mallard managed to reach the door. Feeling sufficiently avenged, Wildwing turned on his heal and headed back to the counter.
"It's still pouring out there Dive, you'll ruin the books." he said as he transferred the weight of the volumes he carried to his left arm and proceeded to stack the remaining books on top. Lia and Buzz watched in amazement as the stack on the counter grew smaller and smaller, eventually dwindling down to nothing. Wildwing motioned to Duke.
"Throw that tarp on for me Duke." he said, and the older mallard obliged.
"You can't carry all that." Lia eventually said.
Wildwing looked at her in confusion. "Why not? You did."
Lia looked from her two arms, which were still quivering slightly from the measly fifty foot walk from the bookstore to the comic store, then over to Wildwing's annoyingly steady left arm. Buzz tugged on her hand.
"It's okay Lia. Let's go." he said. She reluctantly agreed, following in Duke and Mallory's wake as they left the store.
The rain had not abated, and Duke threw his overcoat over Buzz and Lia as they all raced for the parking lot. Wildwing was already inside, securing the books in a storage compartment and helping them inside.
It would have been an awkward drive if not for Buzz's incessant chatter. Wildwing kept his eyes on the road and took quiet directions from Lia as Buzz managed to find a way to talk about everything from comic books to global warming in the space of a few minutes. Duke and Nosedive listened tolerantly but Mallory had her head in her hands and was groaning by the time they pulled up in front of an old three story brick building that had seen better days. The intricate stone work, while probably quite beautiful in it's day, was chipped and cracked. The bricks were losing their mortar and several windows were either cracked or broken. It looked abandoned.
"Ya' live here?" Duke asked with concern.
Buzz grinned and pointed to a weathered stone gargoyle on the third story. "Yeah, cool huh? The top looks a lot better than the bottom."
Duke had his qualms about how the stairway creaked and groaned as they made their way up but Buzz had been right. The top of the building was indeed better. It was obvious the building's top floors had been intended for the well-to-do citizens of Anaheim once upon a time. Hardwood floors met with full length windows overlooking the city. His experience as a thief told him the woodwork above the doors, windows, and fireplace was all by hand, and an experienced hand at that. Whoever this floor had been originally designed for, one thing was for certain. They had been wealthy.
In the center of the room, Buzz stood and spread his arms out wide. "Nice right? The windows are my favorite."
"Windows?" Mallory said. "Seems weird for a kid your age."
Buzz dropped his hands as his cheeks reddened a little. "Yeah, I guess. But, the Institute didn't have a whole lot of windows. So you know...I like them."
Mallory winced. Of course he would like them. The kid spent practically his whole existence in a lifeless institution.
Lia came up behind him. "They're my favorite too. Why don't you show Mallory the view?" she suggested. Buzz perked up, grinning from ear to ear.
Feeling guilty, Mallory allowed him to take her hand and pull her to the edge of the expansive panes. Nosedive followed. "See?" he said, pointing to the north. "You can see the Pond from here and over there..."
He was still pointing out landmarks to Mallory and Nosedive when Wildwing reached the top of the stairs, books once again balanced perfectly on his left hand. For some reason his apparent lack of tiredness from this endeavor annoyed Lia somewhat. However, she remembered to thank him gratefully as he set the volumes down at the end of a long string of bookshelves. Wildwing whistled appreciatively.
"So who has more, you or the downtown library?" he asked, pulling a book on twentieth century world history from the shelf and flipping it open.
Lia smiled and looked over to her brother with a look of exasperation mingled with affection. "Keeping his mind occupied is a constant and expensive challenge, but Al has been very generous. The Internet helps as well."
"Knowin' that kid, it probably creates problems too." Duke said, joining them. Lia's expression told him he had hit the nail on the proverbial head.
"If you only knew." she answered as Buzz dragged Mallory away from the window and over to the bookshelves.
"Your talking about me aren't you?" he accused.
"You do create problems." she said honestly. Buzz seemed pleased by this statement.
"Yeah, I do huh?" he said proudly. "Remember that one night?" he asked cryptically.
Lia shook her head. "Al said you're not to acknowledge that event. Ever."
"Al's boring. You are too sometimes."
"Boring is safe." Lia said firmly.
Buzz crossed his arms above his head and sighed. "Boring is boring." he said but dropped the subject. He turned to Wildwing.
"So whens your next game?" he asked.
"Well, the season's over the year, so we won't have another official game for a few more months." he answered, reluctantly re-shelving the history book.
"You mean I have to wait for months? Ah man." he complained loudly before turning to Wildwing once more, a hopeful glint in his eyes. "Wait, why don't you come to see us again?"
Wildwing took a step back. "Well, uh..." He liked the kid, sure, but coming to visit him? Buzz was adamant however.
"Yeah. And it won't be boring either! You can come to the circus, our treat! Right Lia?"
"Buzz..." Lia warned, to no avail. Buzz was excited.
"Circus?" Nosedive said, suddenly interested in where the conversation was headed. He had heard of circuses on television. They seemed pretty cool. Strange animals, lots of lights and acrobatics. Even better yet, lots of candy.
"It's not a circus exactly." Lia tried to say, but Buzz took over.
"Sure it is. It's just, you know, a high class circus so they charge more. But we can get you in for free. Lia's one of the performers tonight."
Duke looked from the excited boy to the now mortified young woman. "You're a circus performer?"
"No, I'm a med student." she said, glaring over at her brother. He didn't notice.
"She's both." he clarified. "She traveled with them for awhile, but when she found me she gave it up. But they're in town and one of their performers is sick, so she's doing them a favor. You'll come right? All of you?"
Wildwing looked to his team, all of whom shrugged uncertainly. With the notable exception of Nosedive who shook his head eagerly in the affirmative. "I suppose I could talk the rest into it." he said carefully, looking over to Lia. "But if you'd rather not?"
Lia stared at him for a moment before glancing over to the excited face of her brother. She sighed. If it wasn't for these people Buzz most likely would be kidnapped or dead. Circus tickets were among the least she could do to thank them.
"No, please, come. Buzz is right, the tickets won't be a problem. Andre' will probably give you the best seats in the house. He's a fan."
"Cool'la! I get to see a monkey!" Nosedive exclaimed.
A few minutes later the team was piling into the Migrator as Buzz waved from the doorway. "Don't forget! Seven o'clock! I'll meet you at the front entrance, okay?" he shouted for the fifth time.
Wildwing waved his assurances as the Migrator roared to life and they headed back for the pond.
"Well, today's certainly been...interestin'" Duke said from his seat.
"I don't want to go to some stupid circus." Mallory grumbled.
"You weren't puttin' up much resistance t' the idea up there." Duke said. Mallory shrugged.
"I was still feeling guilty." she mumbled.
Duke laughed. "Well, it won't hurt us t' get out of the Pond. Ever since Draganus split town we've spent a lot of our time there. It's time to go out int'a the world. See what it's like."
"From what I understand of the word 'circus' it's not the best example of seeing the world Duke." Mallory said.
"It's part of the culture sweetheart. It'll be fun. Side's, it'll make the kid real happy t' see us there."
Mallory grumbled incoherently. Duke grinned.
"I don't know know Duke, Buzz looked just about as happy as he could get today, don't you think?" Nosedive said from the passenger's seat.
Duke thought for a moment. "Yeah, suppose you're right. Lia seems t' really care for the kid."
"Of course she does, he's her brother." Wildwing interjected, his eyes trained on the road leading up to the pond. Nosedive looked back at Duke and rolled his eyes, albeit with a hint of a grin on his beak.
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