Notes:
This is the only fic where I'm writing one chapter per week instead of more. I'm always feeling unsteady with this one.
Wren is, of course, Wren Beakley from my DuckTales fanfics. I had originally wanted to use an adult Webby, from the '87 series, but I thought that might be too confusing.
Darkwing awoke in the middle of the night to find his bed not quite as roomy as normal. He bumped up against something or someone and froze, reaching for his gas gun. Who the hell was in his bed? How dare they intrude on him and think they could get away with it.
He fumbled for the light and it briefly blinded him.
"DW, it's me," Launchpad said and Darkwing froze, about to pull the trigger on the gas gun. The adrenaline rush that had coursed through him left as soon as it had arrived and he deflated. The last few hours came back to him and he blinked, trying to think through what had happened to its logical conclusion. No one could've known about this, though. And he'd have to keep it on the down low, at least for the time being.
"Oh, yeah, you," Darkwing said and chuckled weakly. "I remember you."
"You weren't about to hit me with a gas gun pellet, were you?"
"No, no, of course not," he said and dumped the gun back on the table nearby. "Just, uh, a little trigger happy. That's all. How long have I been out?"
"Two days."
"WHAT?!" he screeched, springing to his feet. "I've been unconscious for two days?! Why didn't you wake me up?!"
"You looked like you needed your beauty sleep," Launchpad argued. "Plus, you're kinda cute when you're sleeping."
"Oh, that's great," he grumbled. "I'm adorable when I'm sleeping and meanwhile, the city's going nuts because Darkwarrior Duck is out of commission for two lousy nights. I should've known sleeping with you was going to ruin my schedule."
"Everyone's pretty much afraid you're gonna swoop in and beat them to a pulp," Launchpad said. "So I wouldn't worry about that."
"Have there been any sights of Negaduck? Or the rest of the villains?" he asked, anxious. He looked around for his clothes and as he did so, his gaze caught Launchpad's. He shouldn't have let the villains wait-he should've been out there fighting crime. But...there was something about the way Launchpad was looking at him that was making him rethink that.
"Why are you looking at me like a kicked puppy?" he huffed.
"You're gonna go off and fight crime without me and then you won't come back for days and days," Launchpad said. "We're supposed to be partners, DW. And I'm worried about you. I said that before and I meant it."
"Did you?" Darkwing said, testy. "Or did you only say that to get into bed with me?"
"Until you kissed me, I had no idea you felt the same way," he pointed out. "And I'm not that sneaky when it comes to that stuff and you know it."
"Or did you only think that I knew that?" he said and then groaned. "No, no, you're right. That's too crafty for you."
"I want to fight crime with you again," Launchpad said. "Like we used to. Before, you know."
"Gosalyn vanished."
The words fell heavily between them and Darkwing found himself questioning whether he ought to be engaging in this at all. It'd been fun and reassuring, to know that someone loved him, but he should go back to the solo routine. For one thing, he wouldn't have been out of commission for so long. For another, oh, great, Launchpad was still giving him puppy dog eyes.
"Maybe I can help you find her," Launchpad argued. "It'll be like old times. Please, DW. Don't shut me out. I love you."
Darkwing froze completely, mouth agape. The last time he'd heard those words, they'd come out of Gosalyn's mouth, not Launchpad's. Moreover, she'd been saying them as a way to manipulate him into getting something she wanted, though what that was he couldn't recall at the moment. Launchpad seemed sincere and heaven knew LP wasn't capable of duplicity. He'd fall flat on his face first.
"You love me?" he repeated, feeling stupid.
"Yeah," he said and frowned at him. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I never thought I'd hear you saying those words. That's all."
"I thought I should say them," Launchpad said, a tad defensively. "Especially because it seems like you're about to go running off without me."
"I, uh, I guess you can come too," he said, at a loss. Launchpad nodded and Darkwing nodded back, getting up to grab his gear. "Just don't get in the way."
He felt compelled to add that last part, so they were back on even footing, but it didn't feel right, regardless. He considered taking a shower-there was nothing worse than a dirty crimefighter. Casting Launchpad a sidelong look, he headed for the bathroom.
"I'm going to take a shower," he said.
"I'll be here," Launchpad assured him.
Darkwing blushed. He hated that this was happening to him. Of course, he'd been awkward like this with Morgana too, though she'd left him to go to Duckburg. His latest bend had been too extreme for her. Launchpad, on the other hand, seemed like the ride or die type of person. He was touched by that.
"You can come too, if you want," he said and then, because he needed to maintain his image, added, "Just don't use all the soap, LP."
After a shower and some preening-he hadn't had anyone preen his feathers in a long time and it felt really good, insanely good, in fact. Of course, he'd returned the favor and it was distracting him from his task as Darkwarrior Duck. The fact was he felt more like his old self than he had in a long time and he wasn't sure that was a good thing. What if he got weak and lost Launchpad? He couldn't stand losing Launchpad on top of Gosalyn.
He'd just have to be sure to keep a close eye on LP. Stretching and listening to his joints crack, he glanced around him. Launchpad didn't have a costume and Darkwing didn't use the Thunderquack anymore. How was he supposed to bring him along? He probably should've thought about that in the shower instead of preening, but his mind had been elsewhere.
"You don't have any spare outfits, do you?" Launchpad asked and recieved a headshake in response. He wilted. "Oh. I guess I'm not coming with you after all, then."
"You can stay here, where it's safe," he said, having an odd flashback of saying this to Gosalyn only for her to disobey him.
"I can defend myself," Launchpad said defensively. "You need backup."
"I don't need-" he stopped himself. Everything and everyone rubbed him the wrong way, but he had to remind himself that Launchpad's concerns came from a good place, even if it was very easy to lose sight of it. A little too easy, in fact, because he could feel himself sinking into Darkwarrior Duck by donning the costume.
"Find a way to accompany me without getting yourself hurt and you can come along," he said instead. "But don't expect me to wait up for you."
Putting the suit on in full, he headed out. Launchpad couldn't expect him to baby him anymore. Just because they'd slept together meant nothing. Just because LP had told him he loved him...Darkwing hesitated. He needed to throw himself back into crimefighting. It was his job. But Launchpad had cracked his way back into Darkwing's heart with that confession, more so than the physical intimacy. And it scared him, because it made him vulnerable. And anything vulnerable could be exploited.
He hadn't seen Negaduck or the Fearsome Four around lately, which struck him as ominous. Negaduck in particular worried him. It was never good when his counterpart went to ground. Darkwing knew from experience that Negaduck wouldn't be intimidated by Darkwarrior Duck. Negaduck was a psychopath. If anything, he'd revel in having an extreme version of his counterpart to fight. So where was he?
He knew he didn't have Gosalyn. Darkwing had checked as many places as possible and unless Gosalyn was well hidden, even beyond the extraordinary limits, Negaduck hadn't seen her either. The Negaverse Gosalyn hadn't turned up anything either. He hated seeing her, because it reminded him of how he'd failed his own daughter. Plus...he might have mouthed off to her, frightening her in the process. Sometimes people acted like he was the antagonist now instead of the hero. He was the good guy, damn it. They had no right to look at him like he'd looted their places or beaten them up. Okay, maybe he'd done the latter, but that had been in the name of justice.
After an hour of patrolling, Launchpad finally showed up. Darkwing had been having his doubts that the larger male duck would appear. Somewhere, he'd found material that looked like it'd survive any number of crashes (and probably had-Darkwing had once heard it said that Launchpad might be immortal after all of those crashes) and was donning it, along with a facemask. Tension oozed out of Darkwing at the sight of his sidekick and then he mentally scolded himself. Launchpad was a distraction he didn't need. If the other duck behaved himself, that was one thing. If he didn't, he'd have to cast him aside again. He didn't want to do that unless he had to. It was wrenching at his heart to think about it.
It'd been quiet in St. Canard. Too quiet, which immediately made him suspicious. The villains could be plotting something right under his beak. During his patrols, he'd been picking up less and less crime, which he always found suspicious and alarming. They were getting craftier, that's all. There was no way fewer crimes were being committed for fear of his apprehension. He refused to believe it.
"DW," Launchpad said and Darkwing glanced at him, then followed his gaze. The pilot was pointing up at a skylight above them, where an unmistakeable silhouette stood, cape fluttering in the wind. Two years had passed since Gosalyn's disappearance. Two years and this was the first sighting of Negaduck they'd had. Darkwing stiffened, readying for a fight.
Negaduck didn't move and Darkwing suspected a trick. He used his grapple hook to bring himself up to the roof. Negaduck was waiting, smoking a cigarette, which he flung at the ground as soon as hemade it up.
"You know, those are bad for your health," Darkwing said conversationally.
"So's having a lover," Negaduck countered and Darkwing went cold. He faltered and Negaduck snickered; the other duck circled about him like an animal cornering its prey. Perhaps he shouldn't have encouraged Launchpad to accompany him. The pilot was currently finding his own way up to the rooftop-Darkwing's grapple hook probably couldn't have supported both of them, considering the weight of the Darkwarrior suit.
"Not if they can defend themselves," Darkwing shot back.
"I know about you and Launchpad," Negaduck continued. Darkwing's stomach turned over and he thought he might be sick.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he said, playing for time.
Negaduck snorted, not buying it. Darkwing swung out the instant that the other duck came within range and Negaduck stepped back, avoiding the blow. His eyes seemed to gleam with malice in the darkness.
"Poor little Darkwing," Negaduck sneered. "You lost your precious daughter and now you're going to lose your boyfriend too."
"LP can defend himself," he snapped back. He felt cold all over now, his feathers blowing in a stiff breeze. The moonlight shone down on them and he glanced at the rooftop entrance. Launchpad ought to have reached them by now. Dread pooled in the pit of his stomach.
"Do you know what happened to Gosalyn?" Darkwing burst out, unable to help himself.
"No," Negaduck said, squashing any hope, however futile, that had blossomed. He was good at that. He stopped directly in front of his counterpart. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. You're a maniac without your daughter to hold you back. I like it."
Negaduck grinned, showing his sharp teeth. "You're just like me. Two sides of the same coin."
"I'm nothing like you," he snarled. "You're despicable, corrupt, insane-"
"And you think just because Launchpad told you he loved you that you're the good guy again?" Negaduck shot back.
"How...how did you know he said that?" Quickly, to cover, he added, "Because he didn't."
"I saw you two," he said. "You can run, but you can't hide from me forever, Darkwing. And believe me, by the time I'm done with Launchpad, he won't be able to look at you, never mind love you."
Negaduck approached him and poked him in the chest, where it wasn't covered in spikes, that was.
"He'll hate you and it'll be all your fault."
Gosalyn landed hard on her stomach on an old, abandoned playground sandbox. You'd think, with sand, it might've been a gentler landing, but the sand was gone, leaving frozen earth in its place. The wind was knocked out of her and she gasped, rolling onto her back. The moon was up and her eyes watered, having gone from darkness to light too quickly.
She waited for her heart to stop racing before sitting upright. Her feathers stood on end and her skin prickled. Without knowing why, she felt like something had gone badly wrong in St. Canard. The whole atmosphere was off, like she'd slipped into a bad horror flick instead of her beloved city.
Next time, she was listening to her father when he told her to stay put, no matter how irritating he was about it. But how could St. Canard have changed that much? The buildings surrounding the park were ominous, looming over her. As she walked the streets, the sense of fear was palpable, like a thick taste at the back of her throat. No one was out, despite the somewhat early hour, and the few people she encountered were running like their lives depended on it toward the residential district.
Gosalyn stopped to spy a TV in the window of an electronics shop. It showed the date as two years ahead, which made no sense. She couldn't have jumped two years in time. Someone yanked on her arm and she snarled, spinning around to face them. It was an adult female duck and her face was pained.
"You need to get to your house now," the female duck told her. She was slim, wearing all pink, and her blonde hair fell to her shoulders. "You know Darkwarrior Duck strictly enforces the curfew."
"Curfew?" Gosalyn repeated blankly. "What curfew? Who's Darkwarrior Duck? Don't you mean Darkwing Duck?"
"No," the woman said, tugging on her arm. "I don't. And the curfew, the curfew! You can't be out now! He'll throw you in jail or worse! C'mon, you can come home with me. We'll sort out where you're supposed to be tomorrow morning. You can trust me."
"Lady, I'm not going anywhere with you until you start making sense," Gosalyn said flatly.
"We don't have time to argue!" the woman said. "My name is Wren Beakley and we have to hurry. Quick, before Darkwarrior Duck finds us. I have a daughter your age. Please. You have to trust me."
She still didn't know what was going on, but it was pointless to argue. Bemused, she allowed the woman to lead her through the streets and toward her apartment. Gosalyn glanced around her-again, the only people she saw were running for their dear lives. Anxiety knotted itself in her stomach.
"Can you at least tell me who Darkwarrior Duck is?" Gosalyn gasped.
"He used to be Darkwing Duck," Wren said. "He changed, became barbaric and cruel after the loss of his daughter."
His daughter. Her. Gosalyn stopped. "Then I have to talk to him."
"No, you'll do nothing of the sort," Wren said. "C'mon. We'll discuss this once we're safe. You don't know what he's capable of."
"Of course I do," she huffed. "He's my dad. How bad could he have gotten?"
Wren stared her in the face. "He's St. Canard's worst nightmare."
"Don't be ridiculous," Gosalyn scoffed, but something about the woman's face stopped her dead. "Are you serious?"
"Worse than any villain the city has ever faced," she confirmed. "Like I said, we don't have the time to discuss this right now. Come with me if you want to live."
Her dad...killed people? Terrified them? Yes, he was the "terror that flapped in the night", but this didn't sound like her dad at all. It sounded like a monster. Gosalyn cast one last glance about her before following the woman, this time without further questions.
Had her father lost his mind? He couldn't possibly be threatening the city he loved. Yet this woman's fear, as well as the others, was obvious and contagious.
Dad? she thought. Who are you?
