I'll admit I'm not as fond of this chapter in comparison with the others...but it could just be me. I'm my worst critic! Leave your opinion if you desire! Chapter 5 will be on the way! :)
It was common knowledge that a toon doesn't like to be cooped up. Being constricted by their surroundings is against their very nature. That being said, after being in the cage all day, Wakko was starting to feel the discomfort. It reminded him of being locked in the tower. Only this time he didn't have his siblings; the very thing that made the 60 year confinement bearable. Sitting in the center of his prison hugging his knees and staring at the wall, he sighed sadly. He wondered if his brother and sister caught on that he was missing yet. He figured Yakko would assume he was off wandering about and wouldn't know something was wrong until night fell.
Wakko watched as the setting sun started to take with it the light peeking into the tent. That was another thing Wakko hated: the dark. All three of the Warners did. It brought back too many bad memories. It's why they always have some sort of light on in the tower. Yakko said that it was to keep Dot from having nightmares, but Wakko knew better. He could see it in his older brothers eyes that the darkness just brought back the memories of being locked away and forgotten.
Wakko realized at that moment just how little the three Warners really talked about serious things. It wasn't truly on purpose, he supposed. After all, they weren't drawn to do all the mushy emotional Disney stuff. Emotions were just hard for them to actually talk about because they simply weren't given the ability. They showed how they were feeling with their actions, and it worked fine for the most part. They always seemed to know what another was thinking, anyways. Usually Yakko was the one to notice, and he'd usually counter by doing something to make them laugh. After a good laugh, things tended to look brighter.
If there's one thing toons know, it's that laughter can be the best fix.
Wakko was jolted from his thoughts as heavy footsteps were heard coming towards the tent. Mike walked in carrying a bag of what looked like fast food. The bag was dripping with grease and Wakko then realized how hungry he was as his stomachs let out an animal-like growl. Mike chuckled darkly. "You think this is for you? Nooooo kid. We need you nice and hungry for your act." Wakko tilted his head in confusion. "Act?"
"Yep. You, my little...whatever you are...are now part of Mike the Magnificent's crown jewel: Worldwide Freaks. It's my most popular attraction here. People love freakazoids like you."
"But I'm not Freakazoid. We look nothing alike. He's got crazy hair and is all blue."
"What are you...? Never mind. The point is you're gonna make my carnival rich with your little appetite. People are gonna get a kick out of seeing you."
Wakko crossed his arms, looking curiously at the carnie. "What if I don't want to?" Mike smiled a dark smile. "I have ways of making my freaks cooperate." He pulled a wrapped up whip from his pocket, wagging it in front of Wakko's face. Wakko gulped, getting the picture. Mike laughed and put it away again. "That's better. Now you be ready to entertain the masses tomorrow. I'M gonna go eat MY dinner." With that he turned and walked back out of the tent. Wakko glared at his back. What a jerk. He obviously didn't know much about Wakko if he didn't know that he was never full and could totally down a greasy, death-to-your-arteries burger and still eat as if he was starved for a night. Yakko didn't call him his "little garbage disposal" for nothing.
At the thought of his brother, Wakko whimpered sadly to himself. He wanted to go home to his siblings. He wanted to be curled up on the couch watching The Marx Brothers with them, instead of this cold, empty cage with his stomachs growling like a bear. Wakko laid on his side, curling up in an attempt to keep himself warm as the only sound in the tent was his small sniffles. He was really in trouble...and he might never see his family again...though a small flame of hope in his chest said that they would find him. He knew his siblings would search every inch of California and beyond until they found him. Until then he'd have to figure out a way out of here.
Finally starting to doze,he wipes a tear away, hoping his brother and sister came for him soon.
Back at the studio, Yakko was beside himself with worry. After searching every inch of the lot for Wakko a million times over, he finally gave into the reality that he wasn't there. Imagining his kid brother alone out in the city made his heart hurt; and thinking of how scared and cold he could be out there made it practically break.
Knowing he'd need help, he did something he never thought he'd do: he went to go see Mr. Plotz.
Walking up to the door of the CEO's office, Yakko knocked quietly. Yakko Warner actually KNOCKED. "Yes, come in, who is it and what do you want?" The small man asked in his usual irritated tone. Yakko trudged in, looking solemn. Thaddeus Plotz looked up from his papers in preparation to shout, but faltered as he saw something that he had prayed for but never thought he'd see: a calm Warner. "Uh...hello?" Plotz said timidly, almost as if he was preparing for this to be a ploy and the eldest Warner was about to strike with some antic. However Yakko just stood there, his eyes on the floor and hands behind his back. "W-Wakko's missing...I've searched everywhere and I can't find him..." Plotz eyes widened. This was so out of character for Yakko. He was so serious, sounding like he was almost close to tears.
"Oh...I...um...missing?" A Warner out of the picture was almost a blessing in the eyes of the CEO, but even with his incredible dislike for the trio, he knew now was not the time to celebrate. Not with the eldest looking like he was about to start sobbing. He wasn't going to lie, this was uncomfortable. "Well...let me get Dr. Scratchnsniff to come take care of this...he's better suited for...family dilemmas..." Anything to get this sad toon out of his office... "Then we'll give a call to the police and tell them to be on a lookout for him..." Yakko nodded quietly. "Thank you." He said. Plotz blinked. This was surreal. "Um. Yes. Well. You run along to Dr. Scratchnsniff. I'll see that he's up to speed by time you get there." Yakko turned on his heel and trudged out of the office, leaving the CEO to reflect on the whole thing. He had to admit...a sad Warner was disturbing.
Dr. Scratchnsniff, while just as uncomfortable with this very un-zany Yakko, took charge as soon as the toon walked into his office, assuring him that the police department would be on the lookout and would pick up Wakko at the first sight of him. Yakko, though. Was growing unsure. It didn't sound like Wakko to just wander off the lot without telling anyone. That's when Yakko remembered the appointment from this morning. Wakko never showed up. Surely if he was planning to go off on some solo adventure, he'd have gotten the appointment out of the way.
Yakko felt something in his chest tighten. He was starting to worry that something horrible had happened to his brother. Something that would need more than just the police "keeping and eye out" for him. The physiatrist seemed to pick up on Yakko's thought, because he placed a hand in his shoulder. "Don't vorry, Yakko, I'm sure Vakko just vandered off and lost track of time. He's probably on his vay back right now." Yakko sighed and nodded, hoping beyond hope it was true. "Yeah...thanks...I'm going to get back to the water tower. Dot's been there alone all day..." He felt bad for just leaving his sister at home for hours, probably worrying herself to death, but he didn't know what else to do. The doctor nodded and assured Yakko that he was call away if he needed anything. Yakko appreciated the kindness. After all, they do nothing but terrorize the guy day in and day out. The fact he would still help at the drop of a hat was nice to know.
As Yakko left, the doctor sighed. He spent so much time trying to find away to make the Warners calm and less zany...but seeing how serious Yakko was at this moment...made him never want to see a calm Warner ever again. It was so drastically different that it almost scared the man. He went to prepare to turn in for the night, hoping that Wakko truly had lost track of time and tomorrow the trio would be together again and back to 'normal'. For the first time, he wanted a zany Warner trio.
As Yakko arrived home, Dot jumped off the couch, where she had been sitting almost all day worried, and ran to him. Yakko had his best mask of confidence in his face, but the second the youngest Warner met his gaze she saw right through it and her eyes filled up with tears. "You couldn't find him..." She said. Yakko gave her his best winning smile, though he knew it probably looked like more of a grimace. "He must have wandered off and got distracted. He's probably on his way home right now, I'm sure of it."
But Dot heard the doubt in his voice and immediately jumped up into his arms, sniffling as she buried her face in his fur. "He's out there all alone! We're never alone off the lot! We always have each other there! What if something bad happened to him?" Yakko tightened his hold on her for a split second as she states just what he was fearing. Something happening to one of his siblings...without him being there to stop it...it would his worst nightmare come true. Rubbing his sister's back and shushing her gently, he carried her to their bedroom. "It's okay, Dot, I'm sure Wakko is just fine. He knows how to handle himself. I'll bet he's going to come home any minute." He set her down on her bunk going to tuck her in, when she resisted. "Yakko...can I sleep in your bunk tonight?" She asked quietly. Yakko gave her a gentle smile. "Sure thing, sister sibling." He picked her up once again, placing her in his bed. As he climbed in next to his sister, she curled up close to him. Nestled next to her brother, Dot fell asleep rather quickly. Yakko watched her momentarily with a smile on his face. Oh how precious his siblings were to him. Ruffling her head, his eyes looked up to the wood above him. Though he couldn't see Wakko's bunk, he tried to make himself believe his brother was up there right now, sleeping curled under his blanket, holding his tail as if it were a stuffed animal, sleeping soundly with his tongue poking out from his mouth. The thought itself made him smile. He closed his eyes and willed himself with all his might to sleep, though through his subconscious state he still had an ear out for any sound of the water tower door creaking open and the patter of his brother's feet.
As he fell into a fitful asleep he prayed that his little brother really was on his way home.
