Author's Notes: Darkwing Duck and its respective characters are © to Disney and its respective creators. This is very much a work of fanfiction and I'm doing this for fun (and perhaps I'm half crazy in the process).
This is probably the most recent of the fanfiction stories I've been able to craft, and this one is from 2009. One-shot story (with a few chapters or so) of hilarity and action that somehow sprung itself out of listening to Eric Clapton's "Bad Love". I really like Darkwing/Drake when he's being a father figure to Gosalyn. (Though his ego trips are classic.) I intended to upload this around Valentine's Day, but it needed editing and evening out, so I ultimately decided to post it later.
Story Summary: Drake Mallard finds himself at a loss when Gosalyn tells him that he needs to find a girlfriend after being single for too long. When he seems to find the perfect date, he thinks his slump is over - until he realizes that she not only works for Megavolt, but also plans to kill his other identity - Darkwing Duck! What's her plan, and will sparks of passion turn deadly for the nightly hero?
Nothing too precarious in this other than some sticky situations, but it's short and mostly in good humor (sometimes dark humor).
Bad Love
Chapter 1: I Want a New Duck!
"Dad, has anyone ever told you that you're in desperate need of a makeover?"
"Now why would I need something silly like a makeover?" Drake Mallard, a.k.a. Darkwing Duck, sat in his usual lounging chair in the living room, peering at his adopted daughter Gosalyn with an annoyed expression. Dressed in his usual green sweater and dress shirt, he looked at her as she sat in front of the TV, watching a variety program.
"Because I was watching this reality show - you know, St. Canard's Extreme Makeover! They had this special episode, and they said that Dads who don't have girlfriends need to try makeovers." She said with a sly expression.
"WHAT?! Whoa, whoa, whoa, young lady. First of all, you are watching way too much reality television garbage! And second, what makes you think that I, Darkwing Duck, would ever have trouble finding a date? I get along just fine!"
"Yeah, I'm sure that 'I am the terror that flaps in the night' is the best pick-up line...that'll get you slugged! Come on, Dad; you can't be alone forever. When was the last time you had a date then? Huh? Tell me that!"
"I know exactly when it was! It was...no, that wasn't it...Tuesday before last? No, not that either...Two Mondays before President's Day?" Drake paused a moment until the realization hit him, which made him bristle with frustration. "What am I saying?! This is none of your business!"
"Sure it is. I mean if Launchpad has a girlfriend, and you don't, then that's just sad."
"Now see here, I...eh..." Drake paused and put a forefinger and thumb under his chin as he realized the latter part of Gosalyn's statement. "Launchpad has a girlfriend? I must have missed the memo - when did that happen?"
"Duh, where have you been the last two weeks? That's why he hasn't been around here that much, except in the mornings and evenings, mostly the evenings with you. He spends all afternoon with her!"
"That explains a lot. At first I thought he got the hint that we didn't need him to give us food poisoning by fixing lunch for all three of us. But I guess I still have to worry about that." He set the newspaper aside and took to his feet. "But seriously, Gosalyn, I don't need a girlfriend right now - I'm happy fighting crime by night and I don't see how I could have time to go on dates. It's a busy schedule when you're busting evildoers who just won't quit! And besides, it's not that I haven't been on a few nice outings with Morgana before, while we were on the job."
"Well, that's true, I guess. But maybe while Darkwing doesn't need one, you do." Gosalyn said slyly.
Drake cut his eyes at her. "You know what...fine. I'll prove to you that I can find a girlfriend on my own, as Drake Mallard, without any kind of frivolous makeover."
"Okay, if I win, then you have to let me make you over. Deal?"
"And what exactly do I get if I win? Because I know I will." Drake said, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Well, what do you want?"
"Hmm...a vacation would be nice. But evil knows no holiday. So, I guess I'll go for the next best substitute - you'll have to treat me to a hero's holiday - dedicated to myself of course. Pull out all the stops to accommodate me for 24 hours."
"Um...I'm not sure how we're gonna pull that off, but...fine. It's a deal!"
Launchpad came through the front door at that moment. "I hate to break it to you, DW, but if you're planning on taking the rest of the day off, it's not such a good idea. Megavolt's doing something to the city power plant again."
"Again? Terrific...okay, to the Thunderquack, Launchpad!"
"And Dad, first thing tomorrow morning, you and I are going date hunting."
"Looking forward to it, Gosalyn." He groaned, as he and Launchpad took to the revolving chairs to don their hero gear (which for Launchpad didn't really change).
***
The next morning, he awoke to the sound of his alarm clock and did his usual morning training. The previous night had been blindingly easy, as Megavolt had tried to steal all of the power from the burglar alarms throughout the city, but Darkwing and Launchpad thwarted his efforts in the heat of the moment, and the alarms were set to normal to preserve the safety of St. Canard from petty criminals. Of course, Megavolt found some way to escape in it all, a note that made Darkwing's feathers molt.
He remembered Gosalyn's bet, and changed into his identity as Drake Mallard. Father by day, crimefighter by night. Sometimes he fought crime during the day, as crime knew no limitations by the hour, but he wanted to make sure that no one knew of his identity either way - otherwise it'd get very complicated.
Gosalyn and Drake walked to a nearby cafe that afternoon - Mickey's Monkey. But as Drake went in, Gosalyn noticed his annoyed expression.
"Aww, come on. You're already a sore loser if you come in here with a face like that."
"It's not that, Gosalyn. Of all the places we go, we end up here? I mean, who knows what kind of shady characters lurk around these parts."
"But it's the best place in town for single people, Dad. Besides, the bartender makes a mean strawberry banana milkshake."
"Fine." Drake rolled his eyes, but calmed as the waitress showed him and Gosalyn to an empty booth, where their menus were already placed for them to order.
"I guess the food doesn't look too shabby." Drake noted flipping through the menu.
"Au contraire, the food is delightful. One of the best in town." A feminine voice came from behind Gosalyn, and as Drake looked up from his menu, he saw a beautiful duck with brown hair pinned in a bun atop her head. She rested her head in her folded arms on the top rim of the booth as she looked between Gosalyn and Drake with smiling eyes.
"Who are you?" Gosalyn asked, raising an eyebrow.
"My name is Sofia, but you can call me Sofie. I am a regular to this fine eatery. Granted, the bar hands don't attract me as much. I like the sophisticated cuisine."
"Hmm...well it looks you you have impeccable tastes. What would you say would be the best thing to order off the menu for a first-timer?" Drake asked candidly.
"Ooh, I'm glad you asked me. Definitely have the Lemon Trout with the Orange Spicing. They're delicious together. Plus the flavoring is just right - not too spicy or fruity."
"I think I'll do just that." Drake ordered for himself the dish, while getting Gosalyn a cheese sandwich and a Strawberry Banana milkshake.
When they were finished with their meal, Gosalyn looked satisfied as she exhaled softly, while Drake seemed content in the same way.
"That really hit the spot. Thank you, ma'am." Drake said as the waitress took away their empty plates. Sofie winked, her head still cradled in her arms as she smiled at the two of them.
"Oh, no need to thank me. But I would like to know the names of such delightful company."
"I'm Drake Mallard, and this is my daughter, Gosalyn."
"Oh, you raise your daughter so well!"
"Yeah, but believe it or not it's not easy being a single parent. But I do my best."
"I can only imagine how hard it must be. You must be hard at work as well."
"Yeah...well...I work from home most of the time. And I get to where I need to go." Drake hoped she wouldn't ask him to elaborate. It wasn't completely a lie, but it was definitely about as far from the truth as he could consider.
"If you don't mind, Drake, I should like to have dinner with you sometime soon. To get to know you better."
Drake nearly choked on the grapes, which were sitting as a fruit appetizer in a bowl nearby, which he placed in his beak. "You want to...have dinner...with me?"
"But of course! Here is my number and my business card. I run a bakery not too far from here. If you would like, we could meet sometime tomorrow afternoon or evening."
"Uh, sure, that would be great." Drake said, and he wrote his name and number on the back of a card that she gave and took back from him.
"Wonderful. I will see you then. And it was a pleasure to meet you, Gosalyn."
Gosalyn was a little too speechless to really take everything in. "Uh, yeah, sure. Nice to meet you too."
As Sofie walked away, Gosalyn gave Drake a dubious glance. "Okay, that was definitely beginner's luck - a fluke!"
"Nope, I'm just that good. Come on, Gosalyn, let's go home. I think this outing wasn't as bad as it was cracked up to be."
Gosalyn exhaled sharply. "Easy for you to say. The bet's still on. You still have to actually go on the date!"