"Holy cheese, DW."
Launchpad stood frozen, gazing upon the mangled remains that used to be Darkwing Duck.
Gizmoduck was holding Gosalyn and had instinctively covered her eyes so not to traumatize her. A smart move on the mechanical duck's part-Gosalyn had seen some minor injuries in her time, but never anything so drastic. Launchpad on the other hand was far more experienced with the amount of damage that can be done to a body.
The only way the pilot could tell Darkwing was alive was through his horribly ragged breathing, which was more akin to gasping and sucking in air. Launchpad leaned next to him, removing any extra debris carefully to get a closer look at the fallen hero.
His limbs were twisted unnaturally, arms bent in painfully with his wrists balled up in fists, his eyes were already glossing over but seemed to respond to certain movements and sounds, his bill oddly angled, as if he had dislocated his jaw and the only sounds he could mutter were wheezing ones.
When Launchpad removed the duck's fedora, he could see the damage done to his head as well; the blood that stained Darkwing's fedora took on a sickening sense of familiarity, as if it resembled Negaduck's.
Almost like the fates were mocking him.
"Oh, DW," Launchpad took the mangled hero into his arms gingerly, positioning him so the head was placed on his broad chest. The stench and sight of blood usually made him nauseous, but he cared too much about Darkwing to focus on it.
Gizmoduck had already gotten the memo and sped off with Gosalyn in tow to the nearest public phone. God knows he was likely trying to explain everything to a frightened, confused, and angry duckling.
Darkwing continued to only make wheezing noises that grew more rapid by the second. It seemed to Launchpad that he was probably worried about Gosalyn. The pilot reassured him it would be okay, he would be getting help.
First, he wanted to make sure that Darkwing wouldn't literally die in his arms.
If he was going to be in a hospital, Darkwing would need to be reverted to his civilian persona. A seemingly difficult job considering his current condition, but it could be done.
Lying him down on the ground again, Launchpad used the fedora as a prop-up for the duck's head, and removed his mask. Around his eyes, dark purple bruises formed. Next would be the purple coat-the turtleneck could stay. Launchpad had to figure out how he'd get it off without increasing the pain or potentially killing Darkwing.
It took him a second to realize that since the coat was already deeply soaked with blood and given Darkwing poor prognosis, it wouldn't be a bad idea to just tear off the cloth.
Launchpad could hear the sirens approaching as he unbuttoned the coat and started ripping it off at the seams-he'd have to hurry and hide the clothing somewhere.
Maybe it would be better for everyone involved if Darkwing Duck had finally died, not Drake Mallard.
When he was finally done, Launchpad wiped the sweat off his brow, ignoring the blood that was on his hands. He held Darkwing-no-Drake Mallard in his arms with such tenderness that betrayed his imposing build.
"Gh...gkk...", Drake wheezed out, blood continuing to flow from his mouth, "gh...sshk..."
"I know, Drake. It'll be okay! Stay with me!"
Drake tried to move a hand towards Launchpad's chest, but failed. He was struggling to form a single word.
"Ga...guh...sssh."
Launchpad could feel Drake's heartbeat, so slow and weak. He felt cold too, no doubt from the blood loss.
Darkwing Duck was dead.
Only Drake Mallard remained, crumpled up and maimed nearly beyond recognition, in nothing but a blood-soaked turtleneck. Being held by his faithful friend, Launchpad.
His vision had deteriorated to the point of near-blindness, he could hardly see Launchpad looking down at him with tearful eyes.
Drake seemed to be slipping further away into unconsciousness, his head beginning to roll back. He was so nauseous. The noise, the blood loss, the pain-it was all too much for him. His mind scrambled around, frenzied, trying to think of something besides Gosalyn.
Was he beginning to forget what happened?
Drake felt a jerk as Launchpad stood up and handed him over to the ambulance gurney. Before he finally slipped away into unconsciousness, he heard Gosalyn call for him.
