AN: (10/13/2013) My story at the top. MINE! Nobody else can have the first story in this section! Buwahahahahahahahha!
Ooh-kay. Maybe I need to lay off the caffeine. And stop channeling Phil. Yeah, that would help too.
Sorry this ended up being such a long, rambling piece. Like I said, this story is just for fun and doesn't really get the thorough editing I typically do with my other pieces. This is, like, first draft with two editing read-throughs for grammar. Enjoy!
Five a.m. was entirely too early for Phil Palmfeather to be up; but, he'd skip sleeping for three days if it meant getting those Ducks to actually show up for their scheduled appearances. At least traffic wasn't too bad this time of morning. Thank God Dunkin Donuts stayed open all night. After a quick trip through the drive through to get his cup of coffee and a Boston cruller for himself and a hot chocolate and two strawberry jelly donuts for Nosedive, he sped to the Pond.
"He'd better be up already." Phil rambled to himself on the elevator ride down to their secret headquarters. Nosedive should have been waiting for him in the player lounge; but, no, he had to track down wherever that teenager was hiding. He might not even give him the hot chocolate and donuts. Yeah, he'd eat them right in front of Nosedive, just to teach him a lesson about showing up on time.
Why did they only give him access to the one in the locker room? There had to be more than one way in and out! Surely there was an entrance closer to the parking lot.
The door hissed open, revealing a completely empty ready room. Well, that wasn't too unusual. Everyone else was probably asleep. Hard soled shoes echoed loudly in the cavernous space as he headed towards the kitchen. It was empty too, except for a brewing pot of coffee. Mallory always started a pot before leaving for her morning run, so she had to be up.
"He's still asleep." Phil knew it. There was no other explanation. He stormed off in the opposite direction, heading towards the bunks. "Lazy, good for nothing duck. Getting interviews like this isn't exactly easy!"
Was Nosedive's room the second or third door on the right? Third, he was sure of it. He pushed the button to open the door. A fooseball table, arcade game, and hockey equipment told him this was the right room. Darkness obscured most of the room; a small sliver of light coming from the cracked bathroom door outlined the objects, giving him a clear path to the bed.
"Nosedive!" Phil walked right in, intent on getting his star left wing out of bed and ready for that interview. "Come on, bubbe, time to get up!"
"Ungh…" Someone shifted on the bottom bunk before sitting up in the dimly lit room. "Phil? What are you doing here?" Wildwing yawned and ran a hand through his hair, scratching his head a little and trying to wake up.
"Nosedive has an interview at six thirty." The portly human pitched his voice towards the top bunk. "So, you'd better get up before I drag you out of bed myself!"
"Wait, how'd you even get in here?" Wildwing swung his legs to the side. "The door was locked." He stared accusingly at his manager.
"No it wasn't. I pushed the button and it opened."
"Dive," Wildwing complained and stood, glancing upward before remembering last night's events. "He's not here." He shuffled to the closet and pulled on a t-shirt. "He's in the infirmary."
"What! No, no, no! This can't be happening. What's wrong? What happened? Can he still do an interview?" Questions sputtered forth faster than answers could be given.
Wildwing crossed his arms and glared down at the human. His hair stuck out in uneven clumps, giving him the appearance of a ticked off cockatoo. The dark gray, beach bum t-shirt accented the drowsy duck's muscles, warning Phil not to annoy him too much this early in the morning. The ranting died under his withering stare.
"He's lost his voice," Wildwing finally said when Phil gave him a chance.
Beeping from Nosedive's alarm clock interrupted them. Wildwing jumped onto the top bunk and turned off the annoying device. On a second thought, he turned his own off as well.
"Great," Phil complained. "How's he supposed to do an interview with no voice?"
"That's your problem." Wildwing exited and glanced back. "Are you coming or not?"
"Yeah, yeah." Phil followed. The door closed behind him automatically.
"Oh, and, Phil?"
"Uh… Yeah?"
"Don't ever come into my room again without knocking."
"Heh, heh. Sure." Wow. Wildwing could be a grouch in the mornings. Phil made a note to himself, never approach leader-duck for anything before seven a.m.
They walked to the infirmary in silence.
Wildwing stopped just outside the doors and gave them a hard stare.
"Mad at the door? What'd it do, try to bite you?" Phil tried to lighten the mood.
Wildwing ignored him and continued to stare at the door, one hand slowly clenching and unclenching.
"Ooh-kay." Confused by Wildwing's actions, Phil went ahead and pressed the button. As soon as the door opened, Wildwing's eyes closed. "Are you coming?"
"In a minute." His voice held more tension than his shoulders. It looked like he was about to make a break for it.
"Whatever." Phil brushed off his strange behavior and entered the darkened room.
Nosedive slept on one of the medicom beds, half propped up by several pillows. Although not completely dark, most of the lights had been turned off or dimmed. Blond hair sticking out from under a sheet on another medicom hinted to Tanya's presence. She was completely covered up and snoring softly.
"Come ta keep me company?" Duke's soft words could be heard; but, the gray duck wasn't anywhere in sight.
"No, I came to get Nosedive up." Phil held up the hot chocolate and bag of donuts he'd been carrying around. "I've got his breakfast and he's got an interview."
"Dun think that'll be happening." Duke appeared from a corner. "Kid's lost his voice for the next week or so." He glanced towards the still open door. "Yo, Wing!" he kept his voice low. "You coming in or what?"
The disheveled goalie opened his fist, but kept his eyes closed. "Is it safe?"
"Uh…" Duke glanced around. "No lizards in here, so, yeah. It's safe."
Wildwing tilted his head to the left momentarily before shaking it no. "Wake up Nosedive and ask him if I can come in."
"What's up with him?" Phil jerked a thumb towards Wildwing.
"Beats me." Duke shook Nosedive's shoulder. "Come on, kid. Time ta get up."
Nosedive took a deep breath cringed instantly as he opened his beak to yawn. Sleepy eyes glared at Duke, demanding to know why he'd been woken.
"Wing wants to know if he can come in."
The teen rolled his eyes in annoyance after glancing to the door. He pulled the sheet over his right arm, hiding the IV. Tugging at the blanket covering his sheets, he pulled it off and gestured towards the IV pole next to his bed.
"What?" Duke didn't understand what he wanted.
Nosedive tried throwing the blanket over the pole himself before Duke realized what he wanted and did it for him. He covered his right arm again and glanced around the room, looking for something. After deciding it was clear, he gave a thumbs up and pointed to Wildwing before waving for him to come in.
"Kid says it's safe," Duke translated the motions.
Wildwing opened his eyes and came over to them, all the while nervously glancing around for hidden dangers. He sat on the edge of Nosedive's bed with his back to the covered IV pole.
"What are we going to do about the interview?" Phil demanded. "Somebody's got to be at KLAA in," he checked his watch, "Forty minutes. They've been advertising Nosedive for the past three days and expect him there."
"Radio?" Wildwing glanced at Phil.
"Yes. Voiceless isn't going to fly for a radio interview."
Wildwing sighed and looked from Nosedive to Duke. "Duke? You got this one?"
"Nuh-uh. I been up with the kid since two this morning. You do it."
"And Grin's taken a vow of silence," Wildwing reminded himself. "I'm not about to wake Tanya."
"And Mallory's banned. Looks like it's you, bubala." Mallory wasn't banned from the radio station per-say; he just didn't want to have to pay to fix any equipment she might break again.
"Fine." Wildwing put a hand on Nosedive's knee and shook it slightly. "Get up, Dive. You're coming with."
He pushed his head forward and raised his hands in annoyance. Why?
"Because it's your interview. Just write down whatever you want to say."
"Oh, this is gonna be good," Duke laughed. "What station again? I might have to listen to this instead a sleeping."
"Eight thirty KLAA," Phil told him. "Come on, you two! It takes twenty minutes to get there and neither of you is ready. Chop chop!" He clapped loudly, hoping to speed them up.
"I'll use the locker room and meet you two in the player lounge." Wildwing stood. "Dive, you can use our shower. Ten minutes, got it?"
Nosedive looked upwards and shook his head side to side, mocking his brother's words.
"I'm serious."
Giving in, he gave a thumbs up.
"Here," Phil held out the hot chocolate and donuts. "Breakfast."
"I'll take that," Duke snatched the proffered bag and inspected the contents. "Ooh, jelly filled. Thanks, Phil." He began munching on one.
Nosedive glared at the thief and stayed put.
"Dive!" Wildwing ordered. "Up. Now."
Annoyed at Wildwing's demands, Nosedive gave his brother a smug smile and slowly inched the sheet covering his right arm down. The IV remained hidden, but he was threatening to make it visible.
The white drake froze, his breathing becoming erratic as his gaze fixed on Nosedive's arm. "F-fine. Ha-have Tanya do what-whatever." He turned and bolted from the room.
Phil glanced from Wildwing's retreating back to Nosedive to Duke and back again. "What was that about?"
Neither one answered.
"Forget it. Here," he held the hot chocolate out to Nosedive again.
"Thanks." Duke stole the drink too. "Kid can't eat or drink til after tomorrow."
"Nosedive, will you get up now?" Phil was beginning to understand Wildwing's frustration. "Please! We're going to be late."
The injured drake threw the sheet hiding his arm off and emphatically pointed to the IV and then to Tanya.
"Oh." The idea finally wormed its way through Phil's thick skull. "Hey, Tanya," he tried waking her. "Nosedive needs you to take that thing out of his arm."
"Go way," she mumbled, pulling the sheet tighter over her head.
Duke smiled and pulled the second donut out of the bag. Holding what remained of the other one in his own mouth, he pried up the sheet and held it by her nose.
"Hm?" She opened her eyes, staring at the powder sugar covered delicacy through bleary eyes.
Duke slowly lifted the donut, smiling to himself as she sat up, following the delicious aroma. He let her have it when she reached for it.
"Wha?" Tanya took a bite of the donut and looked between Phil and Duke, still confused about what was going on.
"Here," Duke handed her the hot chocolate too. "Think you can get that thing outta Nosedive's arm?" He spoke slowly, hoping she'd understand.
"Mm-hmm," Tanya blinked lazily and nodded, agreeing around her mouthful of food.
"Good." Duke finished off his own donut and stretched his arms above his head. "Then I'm outta here."
Phil impatiently waited as Tanya slid out of bed, leaving the pastry on top of the cup on the table between the medicom beds. Her glasses rested on the metallic surface as well. He was surprised to see she'd stripped down to a violet camisole and underwear. The scant clothing revealed a surprisingly well-toned figure with very little fat. Those purple jumpsuits she wore always made her look dumpy and maybe a little on the chunky side.
"Babe!" The thought of being embarrassed at seeing Tanya in what amounted to her underwear never crossed her mind. "We've got to get you a swimsuit shoot! I had no idea you were so gorgeous." Wow, two babes on the team! Just think of all the publicity that could earn them. He could double the number of fashion photo shoots if Tanya would just show off a little more skin, er, feather, or whatever.
She stared at him, sleep still muddling the world around her. Pointing one finger at him, she very seriously said, "Olka," and returned to removing the IV from Nosedive's arm. Once the needle was out of the cannula, she began wrapping an ace bandage around it to keep the cannula clean and out of sight.
"Olka?" Phil frowned as Nosedive tried not to laugh. "What's that mean?"
Tanya smirked, walked back to her bed, and pulled the covers over her head once more.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?" He looked to Nosedive.
The teen shook his head no as he stood and headed back to his room for a shower.
Phil checked his watch again. They had eight minutes to be ready. Nosedive had better hurry up.
End AN: Olka is an Akaskin insult. Olka is a specific type of rash from sweaty, dirty equipment rubbing bacteria into the skin. It creates terribly itchy blisters at the follicle, causing loss of feathers, and bleeding if scratched at. It typically happens on the shoulders from improperly fitting shoulder pads that haven't been properly cleaned. She pretty much called Phil an irritation that goes under the skin and takes forever to get rid of. (Yes, I made all of that up.)