Saturday morning cartoons were one of Dave's simple pleasures. At the orphanage the battle over the remote control was often fierce. Kids had gotten bruises, scrapes, and sprains over the ever running battle. It was often life or death, the overall violence of it haunting Dave's nightmares. The adult attendants rarely ever intervened in these battles; mostly because all of the fighting that actually injured people was carefully orchestrated to happen behind their backs.

So Dave, being small and weak, had never gotten control over the TV. Most of the time he never even tried for fear of injury. Sometimes when Becky was over she'd get it and ask him what he wanted to watch. Being James Barnes' daughter they of course let her have the remote, giving her hostile stares whenever she got it. She never seemed to notice that though, and Dave wasn't inclined to tell her.

At the Arcana Cabana though, the TV was all his. While it only had twenty channels, they were still twenty channels that Dave could pick through. He decided what to watch and there was no one who would contest him. On occasion he would imagine other kids who tried to and he'd blast them away and come out triumphant.

His control wasn't entirely true of course. Whenever Balthazar was in the house he would steer clear of the TV. He remembered Balthazar once saying;

"That thing turns people's brains into sponges, absorbing what biased media and advertisers want us to believe."

On occasions like these Dave got the uncomfortable feeling that Balthazar was not actually in his thirties. He wouldn't ask though, and on Saturday mornings he had no reason to get into an argument with him over it. Balthazar had homeschooling running from Monday until Friday, so Saturdays were free. He didn't particularly care what Cartoon Network or Toon Disney was showing that morning as long as it was showing something that he could watch while eating cereal in his pajamas.

On most Saturday mornings Balthazar was out doing something or other so Dave had free reign of the TV. By the time Balthazar had returned Dave had finished, was dressed, and ready to do something that day. Balthazar never asked what he had been doing that morning, and Dave had never seen a reason for explaining.

So that Saturday morning he rolled out of bed. There wasn't any cereal in the house except for Balthazar's fiber stuff, which Dave wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. He instead settled for pop-tarts, grabbed a glass of milk, and settled down on a couch. He flipped the TV on and went straight to channel 15, Toon Disney.

He wondered if House of Mouse or Buzz Lightyear of Star Command were on. Another similar show might be on too, which would be good as well. Dave was a big toy story fan, and he quite liked the space ranger series. He got his timing right and found himself watching half an hour of slapstick space humor while he slowly ate his pop-tart.

It wasn't a double feature though and the next show could be anything. He grimaced at the thought that it could be one of those shows about the Disney Princesses that Becky was so fond of. He hated those shows with a passion, although he'd never told her. If it was then he'd just flip the channel.

Luckily for him Gargoyles was on. He liked the show because it was about magical creatures living in secret places in New York City. There were mutants in the sewers, magicians in skyscrapers, and yes, gargoyles in clock towers. There was also a lot of action and humor and he liked it whenever an episode came on.

Just as he was about to finish his second chocolate fudge sundae pop-tart the door opened. Blinking he watched as Balthazar came in and locked the door behind him. For over ten months Balthazar had never been present during his cartoon viewing time. This was unprecedented, and Dave did the only thing he could do. He stared at him, uneaten pop-tart in his mouth, unable to say a word.

"You should swallow your food before it rots your teeth," Balthazar said.

Accordingly Dave did so, still staring. Balthazar rolled his eyes and was about to walk by when he saw that the TV was on. Frowning he stood by the couch and watched the opening of Gargoyles. Dave nervously watched him as the theme music played and Vikings grappled with ancient, mythological beasts. About the time that Goliath, the show's protagonist, announced 'We live again!' Balthazar turned to Dave and asked;

"What is this?"

"Cartoon show," Dave mumbled.

Balthazar's frown deepened.

"I know that," Balthazar said, "I can see that because of the fact that it's animated. Now, what's it called?"

"Gargoyles…"

"And it's about?"

Dave gave him a blank look.

"Gargoyles."

"Don't try and be smart with me," Balthazar said, "Now, tell me what it's about without stating the obvious."

"Um…"

"Dave."

"Gargoyles from medieval times who get trapped for a thousand years, transported to New York City, magically revived, and fight bad guys ranging from corporate scientists to Macbeth along with their cop friends," Dave blurted.

Almost immediately Dave wished he had just kept to repeating the show's title. Balthazar raised an eyebrow and turned his attention back to the screen. One of his hands picked up the remote thoughtfully. He continued to watch for a few minutes while Dave kept his eyes glued on the remote. Balthazar might have been his master but he was willing to fight him for the remote, even if he knew he'd lose.

After some time Balthazar shrugged and said;

"Could be worse."

Then, without another word, Balthazar put the remote back on the couch. Then he turned on his heel and walked out of the room. Letting go of the breath he'd been holding Dave turned his attention back to the cartoon. It would take him another half hour for him to get over the sheer terror of the moment though.