I don't own the Mighty Ducks.
A knock at his door during this time of night was unusual. Stepping lightly, he crept closer to the door and spied through the peephole. The face that greeted him wasn't what he had been expecting. Abel Lovell stood outside his door, impatiently waiting. He watched as the frustrated ducks rolled his eyes and knocked again.
Ben stepped back, unchaining the different locks. "Perhaps he is here about a painting?" He thought as he opened the door. "Hello. How can I help you?" Abel rudely shoved the door the rest of the way open and walked in like he owned the place, all the while not saying a word, his guards walking in after him. "Excuse me but I don't care who you are! You don't force your way into my studio even if you are crested."
"Shut up." Abel ordered, surprising Ben who quieted instantly. "Who do you think you are trying to date my fiancé?"
"Your fiancé?"
"Mallory McMallard, you idiot!" Abel turned to stare down his beak at the painter.
"S-she never mentioned she was engaged." Ben searched his memory for any indication that Mallory was engaged. She didn't even wear a ring on her finger, so what this pompous duck was saying couldn't be true.
"Well she is and you would be wise to remember that she is mine." Abel was suddenly in Ben's face.
"You came here to personally tell me that? Don't you think you could have called on the phone?"
Abel smirked. "No, I wanted to see your face." He looked around at the studio. "And where you work. I obviously have nothing to worry about, especially if you spend all your time in a dump like this. I don't understand why she would even want to talk to you. After all you're just some poor painter who got lucky and profited off other's nostalgia." He sneered at some of the paintings in the room.
In the corner, the painting of Mallory was drying, Abel spotted it. Offence clear in his eyes as he turned to Ben. "You dare paint her like she's yours?" Ben wasn't sure what to say or do. If it had been Abel by himself then he might have thrown him out but with his armed guards at the door, Ben didn't want to risk anything. He could only watch as Abel grabbed a can of paint thinner and marched to the canvas.
"NO! Don't!" He went to stop him, the concern for his hard work won out over the concern for his health. The guards grabbed Ben's arms before he could stop the white feathered duck. Abel threw the paint thinner all over the finely rendered painting of Mallory. Ben struggled against the guard but it was too late, he could only watch as her image began to run and melt off the canvas. "You son of a bitch!" Ben yelled, furious. One guard punched him in the stomach forcing him to drop to his knees. His hands going to protect his abdomen, trying not to vomit on the floor.
"I'm glad we had this conversation. Remember it well and don't see her again." He snapped his fingers at his guards, all of which who followed them out except for one.
Raynard stayed a moment, uncomfortable with what he had just witnessed and didn't stop. "Lizabeth would be ashamed of me if she saw." He thought, walking out last and closing the door behind him.
Ben got to his feet, grabbing paper towels to dab the paint thinner off, unfortunately the damage was done. He stepped back and left the towels drop to the floor.
Breathing heavily with an effort to calm his anger he grabbed his paint brush and marched over to a prepared canvas. Dabbing the brush harshly into the paint, he began his next piece.
...
At that same moment, four ducks sat in the living room of the McMallard estate. Mallory, Edmond, Tanya and Duke debated possible solutions. Mallory stared hatefully at the different decorations in the room for a party she was going to be forced to host tomorrow night.
"You're really gonna do it? You're really gonna take the blame and host a party for those two scumbags?" Duke watched Mallory's face.
"If I want to get out of this marriage with Abel, I'll have too. My only chance is talking to Raulin and I can't do that if I'm fighting them Duke. Tomorrow morning I'll call Ciri and tell her that she's won. I'll host the party. No public apology will be made but Abel can announce the engagement."
"You're gonna allow them to announce it?" Tanya eyes widened in horror.
"They'll do it no matter what, this way it seems like I've given up."
"A-after what those two, uh-ch-uh, f-fuckers did to you in your own home?" The blond stood up, outraged. Mallory was a little surprised, Tanya hardly ever cursed.
"Mallory maybe ya should just come back to Earth." Duke leaned his head on his hand. Edmond stiffened at Duke mentioning running away and abandoning responsibilities, he opened his mouth to reprimand the idea but Mallory spoke up before he could argue.
"I can't. My family would be ashamed if they knew I did that. Besides, it's too late for running anyway, they know I'm alive. If I ran now, I could never come back to Puckworld, I would have to stay on Earth… permanently."
Duke shook his head, that might possibly be worse than marrying Raulin and going to Terron. At least she would be around others of her own kind, on Earth, Mallory would truly be alone because everyone else planned on returning to Puckworld. The phone rang in the hall, Edmond excused himself and answered it while the three were left debating what to do.
When Edmond came back in he looked at Mallory who gave him her attention. "What's wrong Edmond?"
"It seems that Ben Whistling was visited last night by Abel Lovell. It wasn't a good one."
Standing up Mallory was instantly worried for Ben. "Is he alright?"
"Yes, he's waiting on the phone to speak with you. What would you like me to tell him?"
"Tell him I'm coming over right now."
"Very good miss." Abel did as he was told.
The redhead faced her friends. "I'm sorry guys. I have to make sure Ben is alright. He got pulled into the middle of something he shouldn't have."
"Who's Ben?" Duke raised an eyebrow. Tanya waved him off, letting him know that she would talk to him about it later.
"Mallory, wait! Before you go, I must tell you something. Wildwing wanted to speak with you. He wants you to come back to the Pond so you can talk." She pulled out the gateway generator that had been left on the floor and let it drop into Mallory's hand. "Please talk to him." Tanya begged her friend.
"I'll see if I can. No promises. In the meantime, you guys need to go back." The redhead looked between the two ducks. "I don't think its very safe for either of you here right now."
"Ya, I don't feel like going to jail, thank you very much." Duke stood up and pulled his generator out.
Tanya sighed but nodded while glancing back at Duke. Shifting her eyes to Mallory, she implored her to listen. "Please do it Mallory. He really wants to talk to you. Maybe now he'll listen."
The militaristic duck sighed. "Fine." Hearing her agreement, Duke and Tanya made their exit.
"Edmond. I'll be back. Stay here where it's safe." She paused walking to the door. "Shit maybe not, they had a key to the house I think."
"I've already had the locks change. The new set is on all your key rings." Edmond was always one step ahead.
"You're the best Edmond." She smiled.
"Be safe Mallory." Edmond watched her grab her keys and walk out the door to the garage. He hoped the young duck didn't run into any trouble or that trouble didn't find her.
...
Arriving at Whistling Studio didn't take long. As she sat with Ben he explained everything that happened then showed her Abel's work.
"It was a painting of you." He stood up and moved next to her, looking at his destroyed art. "It was just a painting of you smiling and he threw paint thinner all over it because he didn't like that I had been seeing you."
"Shit." Mallory narrowed her eyes at Abel's cruelty. Turning to Ben she faced the kind drake she had known back in college. "Ben I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. You didn't do this." He wanted to show this amazing woman what she was getting into with Abel. Ben liked Mallory and it sucked to hear she was getting married but it was obvious that she wasn't into him like he was into her.
"Yeah but he did it because of me. I don't know if it was jealously or what, but no one has the right to treat anybody like that." Her anger was getting the better of her, the way Abel treated others made her sick. "Damnit, I hate him so much!"
"Then why are you marrying him?"
"It's not by choice." She hissed, taking a breath Mallory explained everything with one sentence. "I'm one of the Crested."
Realization lit Ben's face. "Oh. Oh wow." He looked at the floor as if it would give him some sort of answer on how to handle the situation. "I… uh, wow." He sat down in a chair close by. "Mallory if I had known…"
"You would have treated me differently."
He cringed a little, knowing it was true. "Yeah. I certainly wouldn't have asked for your number." He rubbed the back of two fingers over his forehead out of habit when he was worried.
Glancing back at what used to be a beautiful painting, Mallory's beak scrunched in anger. "Would you be willing paint me again?"
Ben watched her for a moment, realizing she wanted to metaphorically spit in Abel's face. He was only too happy to help. "Yes."
"Good. Can you start now?" She looked eager.
Ben smiled. "My schedule is open."
...
Wildwing looked down at his com as it rang. Opening it, he was greeted by Tanya. "I uh, gave her the message."
"And?" He asked eagerly.
"She said she would come talk to you but I don't know when. Some uh ya know, stuff went down while we were there."
"If you mean stuff like stopping Mal from being assaulted and now we're possibly wanted criminals then yeah some stuff went down." Duke spoke up from off screen.
"What?" Wildwing's eyes widened then narrowed after a second. "What happened there?"
Tanya glared off screen. "I-it's a lot to explain."
"Then start explaining. Both of you meet me at Drake One, now." He ordered, closing his com and marching towards the ready room. It was time he got down to the bottom of all this, like why Tanya was being so secretive with Mallory.
Tanya closed her com, then glared over her should at Duke, who seemed unconcerned. "You could have said that better." The drake just shrugged, unconcerned. "Okay, m-mr. smarty-pants, how are we gonna explain this to Wildwing?"
"Simple." Duke started walking towards the ready room. "By telling da truth."
...
The image in the mirror was her but somehow it seemed like a stranger. The mallard sitting there was gorgeous, red hair in a bun and cat eye style makeup. The marks on her wrists were covered by jewelry. Tonight, she had to be the queen of pretend and hide her disgust behind a mask. "If I don't do this then it would be a wedding later instead of a party now."
Mallory didn't get to speak with Wildwing yet. With everything that was happening, she never got the chance. "He can wait." She stood up and smoothed out her dress. It was time to start greeting her guests. Abel and Ciri had already arrived and were waiting downstairs for her. "I can't let them win." I have to do something to stop them. This is worth that." She reminded herself as she went down to begin greeting her guests.
...
Wildwing had been shocked by what he learned late last night. All this time she was crested and not only that, a DuCaine. He checked his tie in the mirror and looked at his com. He didn't know when the party started but he would find Mallory pull her aside and speak with her. There had to be a way to help her out of this.
Pulling out his gateway generator, he dialed in the coordinate Tanya gave him, it would leave him in her backyard so he could sneak in without issue. Stepping through, the grand gardens and home that greeted him had his jaw hanging to the floor. He snapped his jaw shut quickly and swallowed. Closing the gateway behind him, the drake walked into the house and joined the party as if he had been there the whole time. No one seemed to notice his sudden appearance. The home was grand outside but even more so inside, the rich colors and warm atmosphere reminded him of Mallory.
Reserving his thoughts on the décor, he searched the party for her. With hair like hers, she was bound to stand out in a crowd. "Everyone gather around." An older drake, spoke loud so everyone could hear him. "There is to be an announcement in the ballroom. Please follow the doors to the right and enjoy the refreshments." Women giggled and man laughed, all chatting excitedly about what it could possibly be while others shared looks of pity. Obviously, some knew what was going on.
As everyone crowded into the ballroom. Wildwing made himself inconspicuous in a corner where he could see everything. They waited for two minutes before two large doors opened at the top of the stair in the front of the room. Everything became quiet as she walked out.
Mallory was radiant. His breathe was stolen from him when he saw her, he wasn't prepared for the sight before him. She was so beautiful. The red silk dress she wore didn't clash at all with her hair, if anything it enhanced it. Two short sleeves hung off the shoulders to wrap around her upper arms. The bust remained tight to hold it up, allowing for it to reveal some cleavage and clung to her tight waist, showing off her hourglass shape. The skirt of the dress flowed down her legs and trailed the ground around her feet. Her hair was up in an elegant bun, curled red strands softly hang down along the back of her neck and one next to her face. Her neck and shoulders were free of jewelry, she didn't need any, the soft skin was seductive and inviting all on its own. Her makeup was natural tones, only enhancing what was already there but her eyelids hand black eyeliner going along the top, giving her cat eyes, a style she had picked up from Earth, it was stunning on her with her naturally long lashes. She had never looked more beautiful to him. At the same time, she had never looked so sad.
Seeing her now, he felt his desire for her rush forward. All thoughts of Ida lay forgotten as he drank in the redhead's loveliness. She took a deep breath and his eyes moved to how her chest rose and fell. The pale peachy skin looked like porcelain in that red dress. There weren't words to describe how much he wanted her in that moment. Seeing the aristocratic drake approaching behind her, he realized he wasn't the only one.
The drake that joined her at the top of the stairs took her hand, he radiated superiority complex. The same old duck from before, spoke again. "It is our pleasure to announce the engagement of Abel Lovell and Mallory McMallard. May they bear the fruit of many children in our time of crisis." Many clapped while others, shook their heads. "Thank you for attending and please enjoy yourselves." Music started playing and guest began to mingle.
...
It was the night of her announcement party.
He was angry and sad, the only thing he could do to work through it was paint.
The brush strokes were angry, you could see it from the indentation his brush made. Mallory told him everything, including her life back on Earth and the drake she was actually in love with. It was all so unfair. She was being forced into a marriage with someone she hated when she had sacrificed so much for Puckworld.
After meeting Abel, Ben instantly despised the guy; the way he acted, the way he walked, he hated him right down to the color of his clothing. Everything about the drake rubbed him wrong but what bothered him the most was how this guy thought he owned Mallory.
There was nothing he could do to help her and the only drake that could help her, the one that she loved, loved another. Knowing that tonight was the night of her engagement announcement made it all worse.
Ben's brush worked faster to complete the painting. Mallory sat on the floor in an elegant cream-colored dress, her legs tucked to the side, head held high, back exposed and partially facing the viewer as she was turned away from Abel, who was in all dark colors. He sat in a chair, staring smugly at the viewer with his legs crossed and one hand lazily touching the sadden female's bare back possessively. Abel's side of the room was dark and distorted while Mallory's side was light and clean. It did nothing to hide the artist's clear opinion on these two.
Hours later the painting was completed and he only felt worse looking at it. Irately throwing his brush across his studio at his lack of ability to help. Ben sat at his desk and covered his eyes with one hand, his body sagging in emotional fatigue as he placed his fingers on his temples. The sting of tears fighting their way to the surface only seemed to give him a headache. Uncovering his wet eyes, he looked at the portrait and focused on Mallory's face, he didn't realize it at the time but it almost looked as if Mallory was crying.
Picking of the phone he cleared his throat and called his agent. "Hey. Yeah, I have another one for you to sell… Yeah… No get it out of here as fast as possible." He hung up. Glaring at the painting which only seemed to cause him more misery. Walking up to the large piece he stared Abel right in the eye. "Fuck you." The image only smiled back at him victoriously.
...
Her eyes scanned the luxurious ballroom. Ducks of wealth and power waltzed around in their finery. She hated these things, always did but no matter how much she tried she couldn't avoid them. "How is my future bride on this night?" Abel Lovell, her soon to be husband stood behind her, his hands gently touching her bare shoulders, rubbing his thumbs over the soft skin there. "You look beautiful." He complemented, his eyes tracing her delicate swan-like neck. In a possessive and very forward move, he moved his hand and traced his fingers over her collar bone, then wrapped them gently around her neck, pulling her back into him. She closed her eyes turning her face away from his but didn't stop him from making his public claim over her.
In the crowd Wildwing watched her, a mixture of anger and jealously. To him Mallory looked so broken, like she was trapped in a cage that couldn't be seen and had given up all hope of escaping. Even though he was with Ida, he didn't like seeing another duck all over her or holding her like she was a possession. The drake pulled her away and into another room, using the skills developed from his years on Earth, he followed without being seen.
"Why are we in here Abel?" She knew why he dragged her in here, she was dreading him trying this.
"Don't play coy Mallory." Abel smiled, closing the door to give them some privacy, allowing Mallory time to move to the window to stare out at the snow-covered grounds. She heard his feet as he walked across the room to once again stand behind her. His hand moving to her waist and slowly exploring her curves.
"We're not married yet." She spat, refusing to give him any attention.
"I don't care. You're mine Mallory. I can do what I want with you and there is nothing anyone can do about it. So, when I say that I want you now." He grabbed the ties on the back of her dress, ripping them open. Mallory gasped feeling her dress loosen. "That means you're going to give me what I want!"
"What do you think you're doing?" Her offended voice echoed through the room as she clutched the front of her dress close to her chest, keeping it from falling.
"This time your friends aren't here to stop me!" He grabbed her sleeve and ripped it off, ruining the dress. She went to move away but he grabbed her upper arms and pulled her back, kissing her shoulders and neck.
"Get off me you creep!" She had had it! Fuck politics! It was time she showed him what was what and kicked his ass! Mallory was about to throw her elbow back into him but he was pulled off her, the sound of a body dropping to the floor could be heard behind her. Turning, Mallory was stunned to see Wildwing standing over an unconscious Abel.
He continued to glare down at the drake on the floor. "Are you alright?"
He was here? She was supposed to go talk to him, why was he here? She composed her emotions quickly. "Yeah... I was about to handle him." She turned away attempting to tie her dress back up.
"Maybe but I stepped in."
"Why are you here?" She kept herself covered.
"Tanya told me what was going on... and who you really are." He stepped up beside her. "Why didn't you tell me? I should have known from the very beginning."
"You would have treated me differently."
"Maybe, maybe not. Didn't really give me the option."
"Whatever. So, Tanya told you who I was. Now you want to be friends suddenly?" She glared over her shoulder at him, her feathers there were ruffled from Abel's harsh handling of her. She ran her fingers through them straightening them out. "Damnit this dress is ruined."
"Shame, you look beautiful in it."
Mallory stiffened hearing those words from his mouth, she turned around to face him. "Don't say that to me. Don't ever say that to me. What? You hear that I'm a DuCaine and suddenly you want to seduce me?" She scoffed.
"You know I'm not like that. I told you what I wanted from you back when I found out you betrayed me."
"I thought Tanya told you everything?" She crossed her arms and walked across the room, opening a secret back door behind a movable book shelf that lead to passages behind the walls, connecting to different rooms.
Wildwing sighed and followed her, closing the door behind him so Abel wouldn't see the passage wide open when he woke up, which wouldn't be for a while because Wildwing hit him hard. Seeing him tearing off Mallory's clothing had infuriated him to the point that he didn't hold back on his punch.
Entering the darkly lit narrow hall, he couldn't find Mallory anywhere. She did it on purpose with the intent to lose him. He was prepared for anything though, pulling out his mask and placing it on his face, he scanned for her and found her on the second level up some stair and three doors down to the right. His wide shoulders brushed to walls as he made his way to her. Opening her door slowly he saw her dress drop to her feet. Staying behind the door, he didn't want to walk in while she was only in her very tiny underwear. He swallowed, feeling a little guilty for see her partially undressed. Peaking again he observed her pulling another dress out of her wardrobe, he could only see her from behind but it was a tantalizing view. Mallory stepped into the dress and slid it up her body, the dark velvet contrasted beautifully with her feathers, making her look soft and smooth. He chose now to walk in. Closing the door behind him, he walked up to her back, moving her hands aside he zipped up the dress, noting the nail marks in her wrists left by this Ciri bitch.
"What do you want? I told Tanya to tell you I would come speak with you."
"Yeah but I didn't want to wait."
Changing the topic, Mallory got right to the point. "So, she told you everything. Did she tell you I had a solution to get out of this?"
He looked confused. "It's not really a solution unless it actually works Mallory." He stepped away, her 'fix' was to marry Raulin but if she did he would never see her again. Wildwing didn't want that. "Besides if you go you'll never see Tanya or the others again. They would be devastated."
"Would you be?" She faced him, wanting to know if he cared.
"Of course. Why do you think I'm here?"
"Did Tanya tell you what the other solution was?"
He sighed. "…Yes."
"And your answer?" Mallory waited, a small hope flickering to life.
"…I don't know." Wildwing looked at the ground, he couldn't answer that. He was still hurt even though he now knew that she didn't sleep with Algren. There was also Ida to think about. He cared for Ida a great deal.
She tried but failed at not showing her disappointment. "Then there's nothing else to say." She smacked her jewelry down on the vanity table, not wanting to wear it anymore tonight.
Not knowing what to say, he pulled the mask off this face. "Maybe you should keep this with you. It is yours after all." He brought it up to so she could take it.
Seeing the Drake DuCaine mask in his hand, she turned away from it. "If I had wanted it back, I would've demanded it already… Keep it." He tucked the mask back into his coat pocket, watching her leave. She moved as if she were walking to a death sentence, her feet unwilling but forced to walk toward an inevitable end.
"Is there really no other way?"
She stopped but didn't turn to him. "Go live your life Wildwing. Go to her, she's probably waiting for you." Saying the words made her feel like she had been the one to kick the figurative chair out from under her, the invisible noose tightening around her neck. With that she walked through the bedroom door and closed it behind her.
...
His eyes scanned the crowd looking for someone who could give him good usable intel. Someone who had a chip on their shoulder towards the husband to be. Someone who knew Abel well and understood the politics of crested. Finally, his eyes landed on a duck off to the side of the room, he held the spark of resentment in his posture towards Abel and others around him. Wildwing noted how his eyes keep going back to one woman the whole night. The duck was pretty and she seemed to notice his eyes on her but she ignored him and in turn the drake would grab another drink. That was his man.
Moving in he grabbed a drink, standing next to the other drake he got down to business. "I take it you know the Lovell's?"
He scoffed and down his champagne. "Yeah but everybody here knows that. So obviously you're new. What do you want?" He was shrewd, Wildwing didn't have a problem with that.
"I want to talk business. Care to join me so we can speak in private?"
"Not really."
"Do you hate the Lovell's?"
"Obviously."
"Then joined me. Now." He ordered, walking towards the back room. The duck raised an eyebrow but shrugged and followed, curiosity getting the better of him, grabbing another drink off a server's tray as he followed. Once they were in a private room, Wildwing locked the doors. He spoke cautiously so no one could listen in on their conversation. "I need to stop this marriage."
The drake raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Mallory is my…" He didn't know what to say but the look on his face said enough.
"Huh. You know I was in your shoes. The woman I love is crested and had to marry another. Just in case I looked at everyway possible to stop the marriage from happening but it turns out he was a good man, so I let her go. She was better off with him then me anyway." Wildwing felt bad for this guy, he briefly wondered how he would feel years down the road if he didn't stop this. Reynard put his drink down and tucked his hands into his jacket. "But Abel, Abel's not a good person. If Lizbeth had been engaged to someone like Abel… well I won't say what I would have done then."
Wildwing, tilted his head. "What's your name?"
"Reynard Kyngenston."
"I've heard your name in the crowds. How do you know Abel so well?"
"I'm basically at his side, always."
"Wait you're friends with him? How can you be friends with someone like that?"
"He's not my friend. I was hired by his mother to watch after him. I'm basically hired to be his friend and protect him." He scoffed and turned away. "Not like I had a choice. It was either do that of live on the streets. My parents died when I was young and only took me in to play with her spoiled child. You know he wasn't so bad when he was a kid but his mother turned him cruel."
"Look, I don't care about his history. I'm trying to find a way to save Mallory from having to marry him. I don't know how to do that. Surely you know something that can help me."
"I can't tell you anything without compromising my job." He looked thoughtful and turned his back to Wildwing, pulling his hand out of his pockets and folding them behind his back. "However, if I'm just ranting and you happened to be near to hear my rant then there is no crime in that." He looked over his shoulder at the large drake.
Wildwing smirked and nodded. "I'm listening."
"Most don't realize that Crested are supposed to follow a code of conduct, something I had hoped to leverage when Lizbeth was engaged. I know Mallory thinks that if Raulin will marry her that she can get out of the marriage but what she and most don't realize, is that an offense needs to be committed to show that the partner is unsuitable. If a suitable replacement can be found and it can be proven that the code of conduct was broken by the current partner, then the marriage can be changed to a more suitable partner. Abel broke that code when he paid Ben Whistling a nasty visit one night, destroyed one of his paintings, you should talk to him. If you look up his name you'll find his studio easily enough."
"Is there no other way besides marrying another crested?"
"No."
Wildwing nodded. "Thanks. You never saw me." With that he walked back into the ballroom and made his exit.
...
The knock had scared him awake. Ben looked at his watch, he hadn't meant to fall asleep at his studio. The loud knock came again, causing the paint splatter drake to stand up. Ben was caution this time. The last late-night knock hadn't turned out so well. Peeking through the peephole he spied an unknown duck, patiently waiting at his door in a very expensive looking suit. "Who are you?" He called out.
The drake looked at the peephole. "My name is Wildwing Flashblade. I came to speak with you because I want to help Mallory McMallard."
Ben's eyes widened. "The Wildwing Flashblade? Her leader? The one she was in love with?" Carefully he opened the door, standing in front of the hero now he realized that this duck was rather intimidating. His wide shoulders and muscular frame, fulling up his doorway. "Come in." His voice was a little shaky. "You'll have to excuse my paranoia. The last time I got a visit this late at night, I was punched in the stomach and one of my painting were destroyed." Wildwing nodded and walked in as Ben closed the door behind him.
"That's actually what I'm here to talk to you about." He glanced around the studio seeing all the paintings hanging around the rooms. "You did these?"
"Yes."
"Is that the one that was destroyed by Abel Lovell?" He pointed to one in a far corner, the old painting of Mallory.
"Yeah that was it." Ben wondered if he should cover up the painting he had finished the night before of Mallory. He wasn't sure how she would feel about her leader seeing her like that but art was art and it was a beautiful painting. Perhaps it would inspire her leader to pull his head out of his ass.
"Abel Lovell was the one that attacked you?" Wildwing walked into the room to get a better look at the damage.
"Yes." Ben watched Wildwing carefully, waiting for him to see it.
It didn't take long. Wildwing turned his head to observe everything around him when his eyes landed on another painting, a much more sensual one. A sight he had only seen once before but not like this. There on the wall, was the most beautiful painting he had ever seen, Mallory lay naked on a bed, her hair and arms hanging slightly over the side while her legs were bent, knees pointing towards the ceiling in a relaxed manner but she stared at the viewer daringly. Almost as if she was taunting them. "You painted her naked." He stated the obvious, sounding out of breath and stepping closer. Looking at the fine lines and definition of her feminine body. This guy had seen Mallory like this? He looked back at the painter, slight hurt showing in his eyes. "Are you two lovers?"
Ben was surprised to see it but tilted his head to study this other male. Mallory seemed to think the world of him, Ben was curious if he lived up to her image. "What if I said yes?" He didn't want to be beaten up, especially by this drake but his reaction would be very telling.
Wildwing swallowed and turned to face him. "I just need to know."
"Would you be angry if I was?"
"… She's her own woman."
"No we're not lovers." Ben smiled and stood beside Wildwing, who seemed to breathe easier. "After she heard what Abel did, she came right over to make sure I was okay." He chuckled. "She did this because she wanted some form of revenge for what he did. Mallory hates him so much."
Wildwing looked at the picture a little longer and nodded, now that he was over his awe of her, the blush touching his cheeks wouldn't go away. Clearing his throat, he turned away from the image that made his heart race. "I'm building a case against Abel Lovell so that I can stop his marriage to Mallory. I've heard bad things and the more I hear the less I like. Mallory is my teammate, I look after my own."
"Bullshit." Ben scoffed, crossing his arms and leaning against a wall.
"Excuse me?" Wildwing looked at Ben.
"She's more than that to you. You're as in love with her as she is in love with you. Just admit it."
"You're mistaken. I have someone in my life."
"Oh really? Does she make you feel the same way Mallory does? Do you react to her the same way that you reacted to a mere picture of Mallory?" Ben jerked his head at the painting to prove a point. "If not then I'd say you're in denial."
He opened his mouth to argue but closed it quickly. No, he had never reacted to Ida that way, he had never seen her and almost fallen to his knees at the sight of her. Wildwing had yearned for Mallory for so long and the small amount of flirting that she directed towards him had given him hope. Hope that she saw through the bars of his plight and yearned for him in return. Then, he saw her with Algren and he was crushed, he thought the worst. When Tanya told him in the hall that Mallory was in love with him, he wanted it to be true so bad but didn't believe it, so he reacted in anger to protect the fragile pieces of his broken heart. He wanted to hide from the truth and had been doing a good job of it until that moment.
"Is she really in love with me?" He asked.
"Obviously. She told me so herself. I wouldn't make this up. It doesn't benefit me in any way to lie."
Wildwing looked back at the painting of Mallory on the bed. "Would you be will to testify to Abel's lack of character and the broken code of conduct."
"Yeah, sure." Ben raised his eyebrow at Wildwing, he had an awfully hard time taking his eyes off her painting for someone who didn't want to marry her. "Are you really going to let her marry someone else?"
Wildwing didn't answer. "I'll be contacting you soon to testify." With that he left. Now he just needed to figure out what he wanted to do. It wasn't right to just walk away from Ida when they had been getting along so well. He needed to see her.
...
Ida was watching tv on her couch when she heard knocking at her door. Getting up she checked who it was before opening it. To her surprise Wildwing was there. "Wildwing?" She opened the door and let him in. He was dressed to the nines, only his tie was loosened and top buttons of his shirt was undone. He looked distraught. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah I just… needed to see you." He took his jacket off and laid it over the back of the couch. "Mind if I stay the night?"
She smirked, her hands going to the buttons of his shirt. "I'd love that." Standing on her tip toes she pressed her beak to his. He kissed her back wanting to feel passion for her but instead he felt empty. She wanted attention tonight and he needed to know that what he felt for Ida was real. Closing his eyes, he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close as he walked her to the bedroom.
Laying her down on her bed and taking her clothes off, he hoped he would feel passion at the sight of her but he was numb, then he remembered what Ben said. The picture of Mallory vividly came forth and he felt that passion. Keeping the painting in mind, he tore the rest of his clothes off and joined Ida on the bed.
Waking up that morning after everything he learned last night made him realize that he felt no passion for the woman next to him. She was a great duck, sweet, smart, pretty, but their relationship was lacking the spark that he was looking for. The spark he felt for Mallory. He didn't feel the overwhelming emotions that consumed his very soul, with Ida he was just going through the motions of being in a relationship. Lost in his thoughts he didn't notice that Ida was awake.
She laid there, staring off into nothing. "Where were you last night?"
He looked over at her, knowing what she was talking about but not wanting to answer so he pretended to be confused, though his voice lacked conviction. "What?"
"You weren't making love to me. It was to someone else you were seeing." She sat up and let her natural brown hair down. "Who were you seeing?"
He sighed. "No one."
"You're lying."
Not wanting to deal with it he got up and grabbed his pants, pulling them on. "I have work to do. I'll see you later." Pulling his shirt on he opened the bedroom door and walked out, needing to get away for a while. Wildwing didn't want to seem uncaring but there were too many thoughts going on in his head. He needed to deal with them first before he could deal with Ida. Almost to the front door of her apartment his hand was reaching for the handle when he heard her speak again.
"Who's Mallory?"
He froze in place, his eyes wide. "What?"
"You said her name last night, while we were…" She couldn't finish her sentence.
"I…" He didn't realize he had said her name!
"I think it would be best if you didn't come back." She whispered, a tear escaping her eye.
He felt horrible as he turned to see her tears. "I never meant to hurt you Ida."
"I know. It's why I'm not screaming at you right now." She was dressed in a robe. Taking a seat on the couch in her living room she wrapped her arms around herself. "The past couple days you've been so distant and preoccupied. I realized it was coming to an end."
What could he say to that. "I'm sorry."
"It was fun while it lasted. Goodbye Wildwing." She didn't look at him, just stared out her window.
"Goodbye Ida… For what it's worth, your gonna make someone really happy one day." He left, there wasn't much that he could say after that. Their relationship had run its course.
...