Author's Note: *rises from the grave like a zombie*..................................*starts doing the thriller dance*
...Hi. GUESS WHAT? I've written a new chapter! *gasp* I know, I know, amazing isn't it? Well, I'd like to have a really good reason for not having updated in a loooooooooong while.....but. I don't. Writers Block, School, Life, Events, Memory Loss, and over all Laziness were to blame. Not very good reasons but reasons all the same. Please forgive me!
Anywhoooo, as a side comment, I wonder if my writing has changed in the time I've been away. If anyone feels it has or hasn't I'd love to hear what you think.
And a last statement, Thanks to all of you who've put this story on their favorites and/or alerts lists! It greatly motivated me to make sure I got writing done, so kudos to all of you for that! 8D
Bold words are stressed
Italicized words are thoughts (usually in 'semi-quotes')
Disclaimer:Even though it's been a while, I still haven't managed to gain the rights to Loonatics Unleashed....DAMN! Back to the drawing board. -___-;
Now, without further ado...
Chapter 7-When Trouble Backfires
The room was still, as everyone stared at the boy who stood before them. They blinked, as if, by some chance, his appearance was a mirage. Regrettably, it was no illusion; the culprit in question had arrived. Soap dripped down his forward crest and fell silently to the floor, avoiding the teen's light blue shirt, though it'd already been stained with green. Unfortunately for the young roadrunner…that was the least of his problems.
For a few seconds he did nothing but stare back at the others; it was only after he gave a short wave that someone else made a move. It was his brother, Rev, whose palm went straight to his face.
"Oh-darn-it—"
"Rip Runner!" Harriet yelled suddenly, loud, and clear, aggravation evident in her voice. In an instant, she speedily caught the long collar of her son's jacket and twisted it with her fist. Rip's arms lifted up like puppets to a string, as his clothing tightened around his slim form.
"…whoa." Lexi whispered, earning a nod from Tech and Ace as they watched Rip flail, in his mother's grip.
'Oh no, here we go again....' thought the teenager before he hung his head, defeated.
"Boy-have-you-got-some-explaining-to-do-mister-and-who-did-you-think-you-were-fooling-running-away-like-that-as-if-we-couldn't-see-you-heading-into-the-canyon-from-out-the-window-honestly-Rip-what-kind-of-mother-do-you-think-I-am-too-just-let-you-wander-off-into-the-city-by-yourself-at-your-age-you-could-get-lost-or-something-even-worse-you-know-all-of-the-stuff-that-happens-in-this-city-it-can-be-a-very-dangerous-place-just-ask-your-brother-and-his-friends-they'd-know-all-about-it-wouldn't-you-fellas?"
"Daauh???"
"See-Rip-they-know-first-hand-how-dangerous-it-can-be-for-a-young-boy-like-you-to-be-out-and -about-in-this-city-and…wait…" she stopped, and looked thoughtfully up at nowhere in particular.
The room was still once again, as everyone looked on at the two roadrunners. Rev, who'd had his eyes covered the entire time, now peeked to see what his mother might say next; although Harriet Runner continued to delay. Rip looked up, from his rather statuesque position still in her hold, a desperate gaze on his face… much like a marionette.
"Mom…please—"
"Oh-but-that's-right," Ms. Runner interrupted, glaring sternly at her son.
"You've-already-snuck-out-into-the-city-once-before-haven't-you-dear-yes-I-think-that's-how-the-whole-'incident'-happened-in-the-first-place." She paused for dramatic effect, while Rip turned his head away in fault.
"In-any-case-Rip-dear-I'm-very-surprised-at-you-for-pulling-a-stunt-like-this-again-I-had-been-so-worried-the-first-time-and-now-you've-gone-and-put-me-through-it-a-second-time-I'd-have-thought-you-would've-learned-your-lesson-by-now-but-it-seems-that's-not-the-case-of-this-any-case-son," the mother of two closed her eyes , reflecting on her boy's bad behavior, and loosening her solid grip to a weakened hold as she, too, turned away .
It was at this time that Ralph spoke up on behalf of his grieving wife. Rip had to admit, he was thankful when his Pop confiscated him from his mother's clutches; he felt rather guilty for making her so unusually cheerless.
"Ooookay-Rip-my-boy-now-that-you-see-the-severity-of-the-situation-I-hope-you-understand-the-position-you're-in-huh."
Being held, now, by his arm, as if, so he couldn't escape, Rip nodded with humility, keeping eyes on his Ma.
"Ah-well-then-it-should-be-clear-why-we've-come-all-this-way-to-get-you-son-at-this-moment-you-should-be-safe-at-home-sitting-on-the-couch-waiting-for-your-time-to-pass-over-but-instead-you-decide-to-go-out-of-your-way-to-leave-the-house-and-come-here-to-your-brother's-headquarters-having-him-hide-you-from-us-lie-to-us-about-you-and-practically-snap-at-us-about-how-he-thinks-we're-treating-you,"
Rev wanted to comment on this, but decided it was best he just…stood there quietly. After all, Ralph's words were in generally true. He had done those things, but to his own brother's defense. Was it wrong to stand up for the one he once disdained?
Looking over at this person, Rev noticed a quick glance, exclusively aimed in his direction. The expression, of which, looked a lot like gratitude, a response not unfamiliar to the frequent flier. It made a light smile form on the speedy avian's beak; an unspoken "Your welcome" to the assumed "Thank you" which swelled the brother's heart.
Meanwhile, his boys' silent messages unknown to him, the salesman continued speaking, "Honestly-Rip-I-didn't-think-you-had-it-in-ya-that-pure-will-power-to-actually-come-all-the-way-over-here-for-who-knows-why-let-alone-go-running-around-this-tower-tying-to-play-keep-away-with-your-mother-and-I-which-you-haven't-done-in-years-but-none-the-less-you-did-it-and-now-you're-in-prr-rr-etty-big-trouble-son-so-what-do-you-have-to-say-for-yourself?" Ralph let go of his son, to let him stand on his own; although the act of kindness was overshadowed, by the severe glower he fixed upon the boy.
Rip stuck his hands in his pockets and looked down at his father's shoes. With only a rebellious huff, he stood and said nothing.
Everyone said nothing.
Which means no one said anything.
Because, there wasn't anything to be said except
"…nothing." Rip mumbled so inaudibly that Lexi hardly understood. Ralph leaned in closer to the adolescent bird,
"What-was-that?" he asked condescendingly.
The son gritted his teeth, and narrowed his eyes to thin slits. Oh how he hated to be patronized, especially by this man. "…I'm sorry." He hissed through a clenched jaw, looking up, spitefully, to his father's face.
A satisfied smirk would've normally graced the older roadrunner's beak, yet the blatancy of Rip's false apology left only a discontented gaze…
...However
It was good enough for Harriet!
"Oh-Rip-honey-I-know-you-didn't-mean-for-any-of-this-to-get-out-of-hand!" the mother unexpectedly thrust herself upon her son, scooping him up into a hug.
"I-just-let-a-bit-of-worry-get-to-me-that's-all-and-with-the-condition-your-in-everything's-so-unpredictable-you-have-to-understand-that-your-father-and-I-are-only-concerned-about-your-well-being-we-didn't-mean-to-hassle-you." "But you did", Rip groaned low, into his mother's apron, "I-know-I-know-dear-but-look," she separated from him at arms length, with her hands upon his shoulders; an equal gesture. With this, he looked up to see her warm, caring smile and couldn't help but have his mood lightened.
"What-do-ya-say-if-we-just-put-all-this-confusion-behind-us-go-back-home-and…and…I'll-just-make-you-some-seed-buns-and-call-it-a-day-okay?" she eyed Rip longingly as she looked down at him.
Rip just stared into his mother's emerald eyes, with his feathers a mess from the, rather abrupt, embrace she'd released him from. He knew she thought it was cute. From that, he knew what she wanted to do. When she slowed up before she could finish her sentence, he knew the reason why; because she practically had to force herself to avoid fitting it into the agenda. Also, from the way she was looking back into his matching eyes; he knew that a part of her wouldn't lose hope before the day was lost…
And it sickened him, just like before.
This was the feeling; that feeling of fear and anger mixed with so much guilt and content…almost satisfaction. How could she make him feel this way? He knew, he always knew; and that's why he knew she wouldn't give up.
Those longing eyes, he'd seen them before; once before when they didn't work on him. They hadn't worked because it wasn't her who used them, now he remembered; it was Rev. Those where his 'pleading eyes'…well…..their Ma's Rip supposed. Except this time, they were working; because it wasn't his brother, it was his mother. Rip felt like he owed it to her, and not just because she hatched him. Harriet had done so much for him, and he knew she didn't have to. She didn't have to defend him all of those times, or take his side even when he was wrong. She didn't even have to like him, as much as he very well knew she did, considering her options for 'favorite son'. Nonetheless, she did all of these things, because she loved him, for one, but also because if she hadn't….who would have…?
"……"
Rip's slight pause sent the room into question, but none more than Rev.
'What is he thinking?' Rev pondered, 'Take the offer! You're off the hook!' He wished desperately that his brother could hear him, but he dare not speak a word. Talking was much too risky for delicate time such as this.
Rev's eyes wandered toward his father, who looked rather puzzled by his wife's actions. This only made the Acme hero more curious and confused. 'Was Pop not in on this?' he couldn't help but wonder. His parents not working on the same wavelength was something he'd never foreseen. Rev had been sure Rip was in trouble with both of their folks, until his mother's sudden change of heart. It seemed so random, but…was it really? Had this happened before? The scene was familiar, but he couldn't remember. How strange, he thought, that it felt like an inaccessible flashback; lightly poking at his memory, and cruelly taunting him with bits and pieces……it gave him a headache.
Nevertheless, whether it had happened or not, the tables had undeniably turned for his lucky little brother. Rev only hoped that Rip would be smart enough to take the once in a life time opportunity now under his wing….
Incidentally, Rip Runner pondered a decision, regarding this same opportunity. Weighing out his options, and the factors that came with them, he thought to take a step he prayed he wouldn't regret. So, with heavy hesitation, the teen opened his mouth,
"…Thanks Ma, but…" Rip spoke gently and reluctantly, a sign that put someone on edge, "…but…" he hesitated, now a second time, escalating his sibling's tension.
He couldn't take it. He couldn't just stand here and let the boy sabotage himself, and everything they've worked for this afternoon, if that's what he intended. Like a reflex, the red hero stepped forward, with his arm semi-outstretched. "Uhhhh" was the sound that escaped his beak, when he stopped short of his action.
Immediately, his friends' eyes were upon him, having heard him make a sound. Hoping he'd explain…well…anything, they urgently sought his attention. Then, for only a second, the insignificant others in the room, (minus Duck who had teleported away some 5 minutes of confusion ago) proceeded to vent out their perplexity, in two simple actions.
Shrugging wildly and making very confused faces.
Rev's brow furrowed. 'What's up with those guys?' he thought as he turned his head away, and pretended he hadn't just seen them. Instead he locked eyes with Rip, who had also seen the peculiar display from Tech, Ace, Lexi, and Slam. Now, also confused, Rip looked to his brother, who stared back at him questioningly.
"Rip," Rev started in a hushed warning tone, "Think-about-it-some-more-you'll-probably-never-get-a-chance-like-this-again."…… 'Whoa, Déjà vu…'the red Loonatic blinked.
Rip nodded to his bro; Rev could be right, he really might not get the chance to turn his mother down ever again…never again…not even when he's 30-years-old. But, if this was that important to her, the kind boy believed……he'd just have to live with it…or perhaps destroy it later.
"I know," Rip said aloud to Rev, and then turned to his mother, "but, it's ok Ma…you can…take it." He gulped, sending the words he really wanted to say, down his gullet, where they couldn't be heard.
The Loonatics' heads reeled, each one thinking, '…WHAT?' especially the team's token talker, who had his head in his hands.
Harriet squealed like a schoolgirl, and lost all of her inhibitions. She hugged Rip tight, soap seeped onto her clothing, though she couldn't possibly care less. In fact, the mother was so happy that she talked at a pace that her own family thought bizarre.
"Sweet-Meep-Meep! OhRip-you've-made-meso-happy-I-canhardly-contain-myself-I've-waitedso-longfor-youto-growup-andgo-through-your-process-everyyoung-birdgoes-through-this-afterall-it isa-bigthing-forboys-likeyou-togo-throughand-I-knowpuberty-isn't-easy-especially-foryou-dear-I-knowthis-mustbe-very-difficult-foryou-atthis-age-whenyou-were-really-supposedto-dothis-wellbefore-whenyou-wereya'know-andnow-you'realready-sixteenyearsold-and-it's-kindalatebut-don't-worry-it'san-absolutelyand-completely-naturalprocess-that-I'm-soglad-you're-letting-meget-digitized! IloveyouRipdarling!!"
Finished with her exclamation, Harriet gasped for air, gave her son a kiss on the cheek, and excitedly dung into her apron pocket.
"What have I done?" the victim droned in his classic demeanor, wiping saliva from his cheek.
Rev shook his head, "You've-awakened-the-beast-you've-released-the-hounds-you-do-not-pass-go-you-do-not-collect-$200-dollars."
Rip rolled his eyes, "Gee, thanksfor that Rev, that was sooo necessary."
"I-tried-to-help-you-out." he replied with a sigh.
"Yeah, I noticed, a lot of good that's done." the younger snapped.
"Hey! At-least-I-tried-to-help-this-time-but-you-had-to-go-and-screw-it-up!"
"Screw it up?!"
"Yeaaah! You-screwed-it-up!"
"You don't even know what I've done!"
"You-screwed-it-up-I-had-things-under-control-you-were-hidden-and-safe-from-all-this—"
"You wouldn't understand anyway, it's not like you know me or anything…"
"—we-were-out-here-I-was-talking-to-them-and-then-you-come-out-of-nowhere-moving-around-back-there-like-a-dot-in-brick-breaker!—"
"If you really wanted to help it might do you some good to pay attention and think about stuff—"
"—and-you-come-out-of-the-bathroom-all-cool-like-that-was-the-plan-but-that-wasn't-the-plan-you-should've-just-stayed-back-there—
"—you would figure out half the stuff I do if you listened—"
"—had-Pop-on-my-back-when-I-was-just-covering-for-you-and-you-mess-it-up-besides-what-was-all-that-crazy-stuff-with-Ma-anyway! What-was-up-with-that!—"
"—and all of that was unnecessary because you made it a big deal, as usual—"
"—my-friends-all-watching-and…'as-usual'-whadoya-mean-by-that-'as-usual'!?"
"You always do this! You always make it—"
"I-always-what!-All-I-was-doing-was-helping-you-out!—"
"Well maybe I wasn't asking for your help!"
"Well-maybe-you-didn't-have-to-ask-because-your-my-brother-and-I-decided-too—"
"Oh don't give me that 'brother' bull crap! Like you care!"
"What!—"
"Like you care!"
"Rip-I!—"
"Ok-that's-enough-out-of-you-boys-settle-down-now-you're-both-acting-like-bratty-children-Rev-Rip-I'm-disappointed-in-you-two-especially-you-Rev-arguing-with-your-little-brother-in-your-own-home-in-front-of-your-own-teammates-son-now-that's-a-shame-a-big-superhero-like-you-what-would-your-fans-say-I'll-tell-you-what-they'd-say-they'd-say-you're-supposed-to-be-a-man-and-let-this-all-slide-by-not-bicker-with-your-younger-brother-and-Rip-sweet-meep-meep-you-are-in-some-deep-trouble-son-some-verrrry-deep-trouble-after-all-you-put-us-through-and-now-this-you're-gonna-be-grounded-for-a-month-or-even-two-I'm-going-to-have-a-long-talk-with-your-mother-about-this-and-when-we-get-home-you're-in-for-it-mister-believe-you-me-you-are-in-for-it!"
"SMILE!"
The beeping sound of a camera's flash went off, and everyone was momentarily blinded. Harriet Runner smiled blissfully, as she gazed at the screen of her CompshotDA360.
"Got-it." She said mostly to herself, though everyone turned towards her with outlandish looks.
Danger Duck peeked from the doorway of a nearby room, prompted to return to the main room's local drama show when he had heard the woman squeal. His pupils dilating back to their normal size, the self proclaimed action hero shook his head to clear up the image before him.
From the looks of it, the main room was a disaster. Different shades of purple feathers floated gently to the floor, joining those others who had fallen before them. Danger glanced toward Ace and the others, each of them standing in their own awkward stance. Then he glanced toward his other teammate, who stood, now, separated from his sibling by their father, who looked exceptionally angry.
All of them stared at the female roadrunner, who had just blinded them with an unexpected camera flash. Harriet must have somehow gotten around, in front of her son, to find a good position for her picture; for her back was now to the mallard when he had looked her in the face before. No one had even realized she'd moved, having been wrapped up in the brothers' squabble; in fact, they sort of forgot about her. But there she stood, sleek turquoise blue digital camera, no bigger than her palm, resting in one hand while her feathered cheek rested in the other. Duck blinked; and then was gone. He reappeared behind Ms. Runner less than a second later.
Harriet was euphorically lost in her thoughts. Clearly, she had left the present world and had escaped into her mind; loving with all her heart, what some might call the most heinous photo of Rip Runner…in the known universe. But, she's a mother, and what else could a mother, such a she, do with a horribly embarrassing picture of their child but, adore it. It is in this realm of thought, making Harriet believe she was completely alone, that she made a grave mistake. In a word, she 'Let the cat out of the bag'.
"Ooh-my-darling-he-looks-so-cute," she paused for a loving sigh, "So-cute-no-matter-what's-going-on-with-who-what-when-where-or-why-and-no-matter-what-he-looks-like-cause'-that's-my-Rip-and-he's-such-a-cutie-even-when-he's-molting-for-the-very-first-time."
All of the Loonatics' eyes went wide. From realization, confusion, astonishment, discomfort, and utter horror, respectively; but the sixth Loonatic's eyes went wide as he saw, the picture from over the mother's shoulders.
Then they squeezed shut almost instantly as he crashed back on his heels, and stumbled rearward toward the lounge, laughing. Danger Duck laughed, and laughed and laughed… then fell backward onto the couch.
AN: See, that was a nice loooong chapter, I hope it was worth the wait, or else I have failed you, TT_TT
But, now it's all out in the open, and Harriet has taken her picture...it's time for the stories to begin.
Yes, the stories.
I'll try and get the next chapter up as soon as possible! Thank you for reading! 8)