"Mr Mallard, sir?" Honker asked tentatively, pushing his glasses further up his beak.

Drake looked up from his newspaper. "What is it, Honker? Gosalyn's not home yet, she's still at practice."

"I know, Mr Mallard. I, uh, I wanted to asked you something."

"Well, come sit down and ask, Honker." Honker came in to sit down on the couch, carefully avoiding the seats that he knew were the secret way to Darkwing's hideout. This wasn't a question for Darkwing Duck; this was a question for Drake Mallard.

"But first, what do you think of this?" Drake stood up, holding his arm over his face as if hiding behind his cape. "I am the terror that flaps in the night! I am the red socks turning your whites wash pink! I am... Darkwing Duck!" He struck a dramatic pose.

Honker clapped dutifully.

"Thank you, thank you." Drake bowed. "That one will go on the list. Now, what did you want to ask, Honker? Is it about my caped crusading? My stunning good looks? My propensity for perpetual punmaking?"

"Actually, Mr Mallard, it's about you and Launchpad," Honker interrupted. "There's a boy at school I like, and, uh," he pushed his glasses up his beak again, "how do you know if a boy likes you back?"

"Oh." Drake collapsed back into his chair. "Uh, you sure you don't want to ask your mom about that one?"

Honker slumped. "Okay, Mr Mallard." He got up to leave.

"Wait wait wait! I never said I wouldn't answer it!" Drake stood, gently pushing Honker back into his seat, then began to pace back and forth. "How to know if a boy likes you... hmm..."

"How did you know Launchpad liked you?" Honker offered.

Drake gave a nervous chuckle. "Right... that's a good place to start." He continued to pace. "Well, it could have been when he offered to be my sidekick...or when he built a plane based on my face... but really, I think it was when he helped me buy a house we could live in so I could adopt Gosalyn."

Honker blinked. "Uh... I'm twelve, sir. I don't think I can buy a house yet."

"Oh, right." Drake stopped and tapped his beak thoughtfully. "Well, does he like to spend time with you? Or make you things?"

"Not really. Gosalyn's the only one at school who really hangs out with me." Honker hung his head. "Maybe he doesn't like me."

Drake grimaced. He crouched in front of Honker. "I'm sorry, kid. That's really tough. But whether he likes you or not, you're still a great kid. One day you'll find someone who likes you just the way you are."

Honker raised his head to look at Drake. "Even though I'm a wimp and a nerd?"

"Even if you were a nerd with a too-big beak and no social life, there's still someone out there for you." Drake smiled. "And even if there wasn't, you'd still be amazing just the way you are."

Honker suddenly reached out and hugged Drake. "Thanks, Mr Mallard."

Drake stayed still for a moment in surprise, then returned the hug. "You're welcome, Honker."

The door slammed open. "Dad!" Gosalyn shouted. "I'm home!" She ran around the corner, then stopped at the sight of her dad and best friend hugging. "Hey, what happened to you guys? Is this something mushy?"

Drake didn't let go. "Yep. Mush all over the place. You want in?"

Gosalyn rolled her eyes, but came closer anyway. "Fiiine. But then we play Whiffle Boy!" She leapt up onto the couch and threw her arms around both of them.

After another minute or so, Honker pulled away. He took off his glasses, turning away from them both while he cleaned them, then put them back on again, pushing them up his beak. "You have a really great dad, Gosalyn."

She grinned at him, then up at her dad. "I know."