A/N: It's that time again! If you're here from my Tumblr or the discord server... *Kisses* I love you so much! And if you stumbled onto here, hello and welcome! I hope you enjoy your stay!
Now, go forth my lovelies, for a story awaits!
Drops of Rain
Kneeling in front of the TV, Dot struggled to adjust the satellite antennas that sat on top of the television as best she could. "Why is there no signal over here?"
It was a new TV set that Plots had given them to welcome them back into the studio. Not that they had ever left, but being locked away for a couple of decades merited some sort of compensation. For them, it was a new TV.
"I wish Plotz would have given us some installation manual," Wakko said. He was in the kitchen grabbing a bowl and filling it with all the snacks he could find. "Is it not getting anything?"
"No." Dot resisted the urge to kick the box set, "I swear, this hunk of junk has one job."
Every Friday afternoon, the Warners made it tradition to spend the entire afternoon curled up on their old sofa and have a movie night. Sure, it wasn't specifically nighttime when they started to watch, but it's not like they had anything else to do. Their concept of time was already out of whack. They usually started at 3 pm, and it was already edging 2.
"Let me try." Wakko placed his filled bowl onto the coffee table and joined his sister. He saw her move the wires in odd shapes and positions. "You're gonna break them."
Dot stepped aside and let her older brother get a full range of the TV set. "It was working fine, but today it just decided to die or something. This is why I like our old TV better."
While she appreciated being given something a bit more up-to-date than their old CRT TV, it wasn't much if it didn't work. Staring out the window would be more entertaining.
Wakko took a close look at the device and hummed in thought. He reached over it, under it, and felt up the sides. There had to be something they were missing.
"Wakko, stop it," she said as he watched her brother rub all over the TV. "Don't be weird."
"Do you want me to fix it or not?" Wakko turned his attention back towards the television and began moving the antennas around, disconnecting a few cables. He told his sister to step back and let him know if she saw anything appear on the screen.
Dot did as she was told and took a step back. She watched at the screen intently, hoping to see something pop up. She gasped when she saw a Tom and Jerry rerun appear on the screen. "You did it!" She clapped and went over to cling on to her brother's back. "But I mean, I did all the work."
"You didn't do anything! I got the signal back."
"I started the work."
"Yeah, and I finished it!" Wakko extended his arms out to emphasize his point. He saw his older brother walk into the living room, and he called out to him, "Right, Yakko?"
"Right what? What'd I miss?" Yakko had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders and dragging it behind him like a cape.
"Are you dragging my blanket all over the floor?" Dot asked as he hopped off her brother's back.
Yakko looked down at the pink blanket with hearts and flowers decorating it, "Perhaps." He made no effort to pick up from the floor as he continued to walk towards the couch. "Anyways, are we ready to watch the same movie for the 100th time?"
He grabbed the remote control and plopped himself onto the couch.
Dot sat down next to him and grabbed her blanket, pulling it over herself. She saw Wakko sit on the other side of their brother, and she stuck her tongue out at him, causing him to do the same and pull the blanket towards him. She pulled back.
Yakko internally groaned at the little argument his younger siblings were having. Luckily, before he had the chance to intervene and make it all better, the phone rang.
Dot and Wakko were already mid-jump off the couch when they felt Yakko grab them by the tail and pull them back. "I'll get it," he said with a smirk and zipped downstairs towards the phone that sat in the reading room.
Wakko gasped at the betrayal and chased after his brother, causing Dot to do the same. It was no use though, as soon as they reached the top of the stairs to head down into the lower levels of the tower, they heard their brother pick up the phone.
It didn't stop them from eavesdropping on the call.
"Can you hear anything?" Wakko whispered, leaning in as much as he could without falling and rolling down the stairs.
"Shh," was Dot's only reply as she quietly made her way down the steps.
"So, at 5?" There was silence before their brother's voice was heard again. "You're just gonna make me count to twelve, aren't you?"
Dot had no idea what her brother was talking about. She peeked over the wall that divided the two floors and saw her brother smiling like an idiot with the Bugs Bunny phone at his ear. She cringed, "Ew, he had that look on his face."
"7? I can do 7."
"What look? And what's he doing at 7?" Wakko asked. He leaned in closer to his sister sitting on the steps and rested his head on her shoulder.
"The whole 'hopelessly devoted" kind of stare." She whispered. "He's probably going on a"-
Wakko quickly shut her up and pointed towards the bottom of the stairs.
Dot saw her brother standing there, leaning against the railing with an eyebrow raised.
"-Oh, hey Yakki," she said, in the cutest voice she could muster up. "I didn't know you were down there..."
"If you're gonna spy on conversations, at least do it right. Did I teach you two nothing?"
Dot gave him a smile before asking the age-old question, "So, who was it?"
Yakko gave his siblings a sly smile, "Oh, wouldn't you two like to know."
"I bet we can guess," Wakko said as slyly as his brother.
Dot started, "Was it... the girl from the park?"
"The girl from the set?" Wakko asked.
"The girl from the Award show?"
"The guy from the conference?"
"The redhead girl?"
"This Hispanic?
"The guy from the store?"
"The cashier from Target?"
"The girl from the lunchroom?"
"The"-
Yakko waved his hands and cut them off, "Okay, wow, I didn't realize I had so many." He shook his head, "No, it's not any of them."
Dot brought his hands to her chin, "So, it's not a stranger..."
Wakko snapped his fingers, "I know who it is."
Dot and Yakko looked at their brother.
"Max?"
Dot saw her eldest brother blush, and she laughed, "Max! It's Max! I knew it!"
Wakko rolled his eyes, "No, I guess it!"
"So," Dot calmed down and hopped into her brother's arms, ignoring her other one, "What are you two doing at 7 pm on a Friday? Is he coming to join us on Movie night?"
"Um, no," Yakko said as he adjusted Dot in his arms so she wouldn't fall. "I'm going to see a movie with him tonight instead."
"So, what about our movie night?" Dot asked. A pang of jealousy ran through her.
"I mean, he won't be here until 7, and it's 2. We have some time for our movie night, Dot."
"Yeah, but"-
"-Besides, I won't be out too late."
Wakko nodded, "You have a bedtime. I expect you to be home at 8. Sharp."
Yakko raised an eyebrow at his younger brother, "Uhhhhh, no. I don't think an hour is gonna cut it."
"Well, how much more time do you need with him? I think 3600 seconds is more than enough. Plus," Dot poked at his brother's chest, "You still need permission."
She was right. While Yakko was the oldest out of the three, he still had a higher authority he needed to consult with before he stepped foot off the lot. He didn't forget about his mentor, but it might have slipped his mind before he agreed on a date. He was sure Bugs would let him off the lot for a few hours with a toon that worked for their rival studio.
"Yeah, I know," Yakko said as he eyed the phone. Bugs Bunny was staring right at him. "I was meaning to call him after. You guys just interrupted me."
"Right, or you were too blinded by love to remember," Wakko said with a chuckle.
"It's not like that. Max is just a good friend, that's all."
Dot grinned, "Oh, cut the Ageste crap, we all know you like him."
"No, I don't."
Wakko laughed, "Yes, you do."
Yakko went up the steps and flicked his brother's forehead before heading back into the living room, "You're wrong."
Wakko rubbed his head and smiled, "Don't you gotta call Bugs?"
"Oh, right."
Max took a breath as he set the phone down. He hasn't felt this nervous in a while.
"So, what did he say, Maxy?"
He jumped at the sudden voice coming from his father. He didn't realize he was at the door. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Just now," he laughed with his signature hy-uck.
"Oh," Max chuckled, "he said at seven, later today."
"Okay, I should be done with the yard work by then. Is PJ going too?"
He shook his head, "No, dad, it's just going to be us two."
Goofy gave his son a knowing smile, causing Max to blush. "Well, are you two going to Downtown Burbank? There's a pretty plaza with stores and a theater you can take him to."
"The one with the Batman Statue in front?"
"That's the one. What movie are you fixing to see?"
Max shrugged and sat down on his bed, "I'm not sure yet. We haven't decided on one." He mindlessly scrolled through his phone, trying to make the conversation as less awkward as he could. He didn't need his dad giving him dating advice. He wasn't the suavest person on the planet. Also, having a conversation about date plans is not something he enjoyed doing with his dad.
"I know they have a few oldies showing."
"How do you know, dad?"
Goofy laughed, "You think I don't get around?"
"Ew, gross." Max said, sticking his tongue out, "I don't need to know about all the details. Just let me know when I get a stepmom or something."
Goofy winked. "Anyways, make sure it's not any horror films- you know how you get with horror films."
"I'm not 12, dad. I think I can handle a few jumpscares." Max said as he looked up at his dad, "I'm a big boy now."
"Yeah," Goofy reached over to rub his son's head, "Growing up so fast. Well," he gestured over towards the yard, "I'm gonna get started. Let me know when you're ready. And keep an eye on Waffles for me; I don't need her running into the street again when I turn on the lawn mower."
Max nodded as he followed his dad out of the room and into the living room to grab the old cat. He planted a kiss on her forehead before picking her up and taking her back into his room.
He had a few hours to spare, so he decided to start picking out his outfit and shower.
The hours passed rather quickly. Max didn't realize how fast it had gone until he heard his dad get back into the house.
"Ya ready, son?" He heard his dad call out to him. "I'll take a quick shower, and we'll be on our way!"
"Okay!" He looked at the clothes he had picked out. He thought it had looked good a few hours ago, but now it all looked ugly. He dug through his closet and tossed some t-shirts onto his bed. He'd have to wear red- he couldn't go wrong with red. Plus, a green coat to go with it. But then he'd look like a Christmas tree. Max sighed.
This wouldn't be the first time they would meet up. Max had already met Yakko a while back during a conference their studios were hosting. Disney had this yearly award ceremony where all the toons would gather around and get recognized for their achievements and programs. Given that Warners Studio was right next door, sometimes they would team up and host the shows together.
Max had to attend because of his dad and the Mickey Mouse crew. They were always popular in the media, so they always won some type of award or recognition. He won a couple of awards for his films, but his father got the most fame and glory.
That made the whole experience boring for him. That's why he was always excited to hear when Warner Bro studios would tag along ever since that one incident that involved the Warners. That was one year that went down in the history books; for both him and the studio.
In fact, it was the first time Max had seen the Warners in action. They didn't talk much during the whole party crashing fiasco, but he did remember Yakko stopping by the table and complementing the Mickey crew for their show. In hindsight, it was more of a backhanded compliment than a genuine one, but it was funny nonetheless. Watching his Uncle Mickey lose his cool at the ruined reception was the funniest thing he's ever seen.
They met during films and contract approval meetings a few times after that. Where they should share a series of head nods, waves, and smiles. As time went on, those small gestures turned into small conversations, and before he knew it, they were pretty much friends.
"You got everything?" Goofy asked, seeing Max walk into the kitchen.
"Yep, I think so. And if not, then oops."
Goofy laughed as he grabbed the keys and headed for the driveway.
They made it there in no time. Max found himself staring up at the water tower, mentally preparing himself to climb up. He didn't look back at his dad, even though he wanted his reassurance, and took a step towards the latter. He slowly began to climb.
He smiled at himself when he reached the top. He decided to not look down and reached over to knock on the door. But that seemed to be unnecessary given that as soon as his fist hovered the yellow metal door, it swung open.
Max looked down at the small boy and waved, "Hey, Wakko."
"Max," Wakko replied as he opened the door further to let him inside.
"I'm here for"-
"We know why you're here."
Max jumped at the other voice. He saw Dot sitting on the couch, glaring at him.
"Our brother is still getting ready, but please, come in and take a seat." Dot patted the empty spot on the couch next to her.
"Okay, you two, leave him alone." Yakko entered the living room and flicked the back of Dot's head as he passed behind the couch. "Hello, Maxy!" He sang as he jumped into Max's arms.
Max caught him and set him down. "Oh, I like your shirt."
Yakko looked down at his outfit and smiled. He was wearing his regular topaz pants with his black belt, but his siblings had told him to put a shirt on, just in case it got too cold. He had a few shirts he could wear, but he picked out his blue and white striped shirt. He liked the colors. "Thank you!"
"Are you ready to go?" Max asked as the toon hopped out of his arms.
Yakko looked around the room, "No, I forgot something. Wait right here."
Before he could reply, Yakko disappeared into the hallway, leaving him with the two younger ones. They were glaring at him again, and it was scaring him.
"Well, Max. Where were we?" Dot continued as she got up and sat on the couch's armrest. "Oh, I remember. Don't worry, I'll try to make this as simple as I possibly can so you understand every word that'll come out of my mouth."
Max wasn't sure what her intentions were, but he knew that he should be afraid. Wakko wasn't showing any signs of defending him either, so he played around with the idea of death.
"I can see you're a bit nervous," Dot sweetly said as she waved her hand, "Completely understandable given it's your first date with him and all." She hopped off the couch and got closer to him, "But if he comes back here upset in any way, shape, or form... you'll get handed back to your dad in an urn." She smiled.
Max was surprised with how sweet and innocent her tone of voice was- for the threats she was making.
"But don't worry," Wakko added on. "We'll decorate it for you. We aren't monsters, you know."
"What? Monsters? You two?" Max waved his hand dismissively in sarcasm, "No..."
Dot smiled, a genuine smile this time. "You seem nice, Max. But you hurt our brother..." She didn't even need to finish her sentence. She knew that Max got the message.
It was just in time, too, because Yakko walked into the living room ready to go.
"Okay, I'm back!"
Yakko's voice made Max jump in surprise. He could hear Dot and Wakko snickering in the background. He looked at Yakko and noticed he didn't come back with anything different. "What did you forget?"
Yakko shrugged, "I don't know. I forgot the second I stepped into the room."
Dot pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers, "I don't know what you see in him."
Yakko smiled and rolled his eyes. "Okay, you two, don't burn the house down while I'm gone. Bugs should be here in a few minutes, so you shouldn't be alone for too long. But call me if you need anything."
"We'll be fine!" Wakko said as he opened the front door back up, "Now leave."
"I'm serious. call me if"-
"-We aren't gonna call you, Yakki," Dot said. "Now go, you're gonna miss the movie." She gestured for them to step out.
"Okay, but if Bugs doesn't get here, just send him a message," Yakko said as he looked around the room and snapped his fingers, "Or call Brain! I'm sure he wouldn't mind. It's not like he has anything better to do... but I didn't tell him that"-
"-Oh my God- if you don't leave." Dot pushed both of them out the door and planted a quick kiss on her brother's cheek, "Now you kids have fun! Don't stay out too late! I'm watching you, Max! Goodbye!" She slammed the door shut and looked at her brother, who was in a fit of giggles. "Jeez, talk about word vomit."
"Sorry about that," Yakko chuckled. Not even a minute into their date, and he already had a moment of embarrassment.
Max didn't mind. He actually found it pretty cute to see Yakko worry over his younger siblings. "It's cool; I think it's sweet."
Stepping towards the tower railings, Yakko looked down and did some mental math before reaching into his hammerspace. He pulled out a small inflatable air mattress and dropped it down towards the ground.
Max looked down and questioned what Yakko's next steps were. "Um, Are you sure we'll make it? Because I can use the latter."
"Of course, I'm sure." Yakko smugly shrugged, "I've lived here my whole life- it's second nature at this point." He stepped over the rails and stuck his hand out towards Max. "Ready?"
"But what if we fall onto the concrete?"
"Relax, you're a toon, just take the fall and walk it off! Besides," Yakko gave him a reassuring smile, "I won't miss."
Max looked at Yakkos's hand and grabbed it. He took a breath and stepped over the railings, making sure to not look down too much. He wasn't scared of heights, but he was afraid of breaking a bone. He wasn't used to falling flat on his face for entertainment.
And down they went, falling softly onto the mattress. Yakko chuckled as he neatly hopped off the plastic and watched Max struggle to get off.
"See, that wasn't so bad, was it?"
Max smiled at him and looked back at the mattress, "It was fun!"
"Boring was never an option," Yakko replied as he looked at the car stationed nearby. "Is that your dad?"
"Yeah, he's driving us and picking us up tonight," Max said as he watched Yakko pick up the air mattress and stuff it behind him. He had no idea how he could fit something so big in such a small space. Disney toons never got that kind of practice with their own hammerspace.
Yakko followed Max towards the red car. Max opened the door for him to step inside, and he sat down next to him.
"Dad, this is Yakko! Yakko, that's my dad."
"Wow." Yakko reached out and shook Goofy's gloved hand with his own, "So you're the one and only Goofy G. Goof..."
Goofy laughed, "That'll be me!"
"I can't believe I'm meeting one of the biggest Disney stars on the planet! Is Walt Disney really kept in the freezer?"
Goofy laughed again, "That's a secret I can't share with you, kiddo!"
"So he is... I knew it." Yakko sat back and smiled, "Thanks for driving us."
"Of course! So, drop you off downtown, right?"
Max nodded.
The conversation held within the car on the way to their destination was one Yakko would cherish forever. It wasn't every day where he could talk to an iconic toon star as big as Goofy. Especially since it was his one time to gather as much juicy information about the guy he was spending his night with.
Max was just counting down the seconds until they had to get out of the car. He wasn't embarrassed about his dad, but there were times where he wished they weren't so known. On the bright side, Yakko knew how to talk, which was fun and entertaining in itself.
The conversation came to a halt as soon as they reached their destination.
"Alright, you two, here's your spot!" Goofy unlocked the doors for the two boys to hop out. "Enjoy your time. I'll be back at 10 to pick you two up! Call me if you need me to come a bit earlier," Goofy looked up at the sky, "I think it might rain."
"Okay, dad." Max shut the car door, "I'll see you later."
"Bye, Mr. Goof!" Yakko waved.
"And before I forget," Goofy rolled down the passenger window, "Take a 20. Just in case."
"Oh, thanks, dad!" Max happily took the money and shoved it into his coat pocket.
"Love ya, son!"
"Love ya too, dad."
Yakko couldn't resist adding to the love proclamations, "I love you more, Mr. Goof!"
Goofy laughed as he rolled up his window and drove off.
"Aw, I think he likes me." Yakko looked at Max and sighed, "That was cute."
"Oh shut up," Max blushed, "It wasn't as cute as the little scene you had leaving the tower."
"That's different," Yakko retaliated as he cringed at himself.
"Sure it was."
Downtown Burbank was buzzing with people. For a Friday night, it wasn't unusual to see toons and people walking around, making small talk, and dancing in groups.
The sun was starting to set, and clouds were forming high in the sky. Yakko remembered Goofy point out the possibility of rain- but he's lived in Burbank long enough to know that the weather was very indecisive.
Yakko felt a cold breeze, and he rubbed his arms, "So, what movie are we watching?"
Max shrugged with his hands in his pockets, "I don't even know what's playing. My dad said they were showing old films."
"Oh, I love old films!" Yakko said as he casually slid his hand and linked his arm with his. "The theater is that way."
Max looked down at Yakkos's arm and felt his heart race. Yakko seemed to be oblivious to his internal panic. He was glad he could play it off well.
They passed the array of shops, restaurants, pubs, and the occasional beggar as they made their way further into the plaza. The two of them took in the open air, and Yakko found himself admiring the palm tree's sway with the incoming wind.
It had been a while since he's been off the lot. He took everything in, knowing that this could be his last time away from the studio before Plotz decided to lock them back up.
It was hard to miss the giant AMC sign that stood above the entrance doors of the theater. A long row of stairs led to the top, illuminated with yellow warm light bulbs on each step. Luckily, there were escalators right next to it.
The two walked towards the ticket booth and looked up at the various movie posters highlighted above.
"Wanna do horror?" Yakko asked as he adjusted his arm. "Old horror films are fun to watch. Especially since the props are way behind its time."
Max didn't want to seem like a wimp if he rejected watching a horror film. Sure, they weren't his favorite types of movies, but Yakko seemed to want to watch one, so he could give it a shot. "Uh, sure! Wanna watch Elm Street?"
Yakko insisted on paying, but Max wouldn't allow it. He didn't object to him offering to spend his money, but he knew he was going to have to make it up to him somehow. He didn't want Max to be the only one spending.
"Fine, You better let me pay for the snacks then."
"No, it's alright!" Max held up his cash, "I'm rolling in dough tonight." He sounded excited as he waved his money around like a fan over his face.
"Aw, well, you'll be rolling in your grave if you don't let me pay for the popcorn," Yakko shot back in the same playful tone.
Max laughed at him and held his arms up in defeat, "Okay, fine."
They had around 20 minutes to waste before the movie started, so they decided to walk around through the plaza some more.
Yakko pointed towards a movie poster that hung on the side of the walls of one of the stores. "That's the movie we based one of our segments on."
Max followed Yakkos's gaze and looked at the GoodFellas poster. "The birds, right?"
He nodded, "Yep! They came to set one time when they heard we were basing the Good Feathers off of them. They helped out."
"That's so cool. Yeah, Disney is very limited with who they decide to include and reference. And it's always someone from the company, so we don't have much material."
"You don't?" Yakko raised an eyebrow, "I thought you had Pixar, Marvel, and Starwars."
"We do. But each franchise has like... five big stars. So, it gets really repetitive. Which is cool and all because you get to meet them on a more one-on-one basis, but it's boring."
"That's true. Warner Bros is a pretty big and broad company. So we have films that range from PG-13 to rated R- which makes for fun adult jokes," Yakko said with a click of his tongue and a pair of finger guns.
Max chuckled. He was cute.
"You have a movie of your own, right?" Yakko asked as they continued to make their way down the sidewalk. It was now getting dark, and the warm lights lit up their path, along with the headlights from cars and lights from the stores.
"I'm set to film another one. I'm not sure when, but I overheard a few executives say something the last time I was on set with my dad. But I have had smaller roles in other films."
"Really?" That was something Yakko didn't know.
"As cameos or mentions. It's not much, but I get paid for having my name or picture tossed around. My dad showed up for a scene in Roger Rabbit, and he got mentioned a few times. They even threw in recycled material from his own show. It still brings in a pretty big paycheck to this day!"
"That's a fun advantage to have, though. You might be small, but there's a possibility for cameos and recognition with every film produced. We don't get mentioned as much in other media."
Max looked at Yakko, "Wait, you have your own movie too, right?"
He smiled, "Yeah, it was a cash grab and totally separate from the main series. It got good ratings."
"Yeah, I know," Max said as he poked Yakkos's side, "I watched it."
Yakko blushed, "Ew, you did?" He wanted to curl up in a ball and hide his face, "Why?"
"It was playing in one of the film rooms. You're a pretty good actor."
"Thanks," he replied, "It was a different tone to what I was used to, but we made it work."
Yakko decided to skip over the part where he would break into a panic in the middle of scenes or the breakdowns he would experience after in the secrecy of his bathroom. This was supposed to be a fun date, not a therapy session. And Yakko could sense Max grow a bit more comfortable and laid back.
Instead, he decided to focus on the fun parts. "The best part about the movie was our entire cast working together in the same scenes. And the music was fun to record."
"Yeah, I was just about to mention that. You're a great singer. I mean, I have a few songs, but you really go above and beyond. It's amazing."
Yakko couldn't help but smile at the compliments. "Please, don't flatter me," he dramatically said. He leaned onto Max's arm, "On second thought, please, continue to stroke my ego."
Max blushed at the implied innuendo, and he laughed, "I can't stand you."
"Then why don't you take a seat?" Yakko kissed the palm of his hand and blew him a kiss, "Goodnight, Max. Now come on," Yakko reached out and grabbed Max's hand, dragging him back towards the theater, "The movie is about to start."
Max almost fell forwards as he tried to keep up with him. When he reached his pace, Max looked at his hand, comfortably snug inside Yakko's. If Max wanted to make a move, now would be a good time. So he took a breath and intertwined his fingers with his.
They didn't pull apart until after they reached their seats.
Yakko sat down first, placing the popcorn on his lap as he checked his phone. He had no missed messages, so that meant that his siblings were okay. Or they were in the middle of an emergency that didn't let them get to their phone. What if they-
"Have you seen this movie before?" Max asked, taking Yakko out of his own head.
"Huh?" Yakko looked at Max as the question registered in his head, "Oh, yeah!" He replied in a rather loud tone. He remembered he was in a theater and lowered his voice, "I mean, yeah. I saw this film a while ago. Have you?"
Max shook his head, "Nope, we don't get much horror playing within Disney. I think the closest we got is any Tim Burton film."
"Oh," Yakko smiled, "Then you're in for a treat. This is my brother's favorite movie."
"Really?"
"He does a pretty good Kruger impression. And I think the only reason he likes it is because he looks like a raisin."
Max chuckled, "I mean, that's a pretty valid reason."
The lights in the theater began to dim, and the chatter started to quiet down. Yakko took this as an opportunity to make his own move and cuddle up next to Max. He placed the popcorn between them and leaned towards him, acting as cool as he possibly could. Yakko was glad he couldn't see his heart racing.
Max, on the other hand, was glad that it was dark inside the theater. Yakko wouldn't be able to see the red glow on his face.
The movie wasn't as scary as he had thought it was going to be. Well, no. That was a lie. Max had a few moments of scares and suspense, but Yakko made the movie much more enjoyable.
For anyone else, having a date talk and making small comments and jokes about the film would have been annoying. But it was the best part for Max. He wasn't the biggest fan of horror and unsettling gore, but having Yakko pretty much whisper through it was a blessing. Something inside him told him Yakko was doing this on purpose.
And he was. Yakko wasn't an idiot. Max practically jumped with every scene change and suspense shot. So, he figured that lightening up the mood would do him good. It also helped that Yakko knew just about everything that went into the production of the movie.
Max giggled at the jokes Yakko threw in here and there, and he had a hard time keeping quiet because Yakko knew just what to say to make things extra funnier.
"Shhh," Yakko whispered between giggles, "We're in a theater."
Max covered his mouth in an attempt to stop his laughing fit, "This is your fault."
"What are you talking about? I didn't even say anything!" Yakko laughed.
The rest of the film went by faster than Yakko remembered. Max got the hiccups near the ending, and he wasn't sure if it was because he was laughing so hard or because he got scared. Either way, Yakko found it adorably hilarious.
"I need some water," Max said between hiccups, "I hate you so much."
Yakko gave him a sly shrug, "That's what they all say. Get some candy!" Yakko said. "It works on my sibs when they get the hiccups."
Max nodded as he made his way towards the refreshments table in the theater's lobby. "You want some?"
Yakko shook his head, "Nah, I'm good. I have enough candy as it is."
Max waved at the man behind the counter and looked down at the various options. He didn't even know what to get.
"Enjoy the movie?" The man behind the stand asked. "What can I get for you two?"
"What do you recommend for hiccups?"
"Some taffy," The man replied as he took some out and handed it to him, "It works wonders."
As Max bought his candy, Yakko looked out towards the doors and noticed people put jackets on and grab umbrellas. It was raining, and those were the two things he didn't have.
"Hey Max," Yakko said as he tugged on his jacket, "I remember what I forgot to get back home."
Max threw the wrapper away in the trash, "What?"
"A jacket." He gestured towards the door and smiled, "It just came to me."
Max looked at the rain falling outside and turned to look at Yakko, "Is that why you took so long? What were you doing in your room?"
Yakko laughed, "So, funny story. I walked into my room and just stood there for a while so I won't look stupid coming out after only a few seconds. It worked, didn't it?"
Max chuckled, "No."
Yakko breathed in the cold, fresh rain scent when Max opened the exit doors. They stepped outside and stood under the covered portion of the stairs.
From the top, Yakko could see most of the plaza, illuminated with the rustic yellow lights. The lack of cars driving gave the place a warm and cozy feeling. The lightning reflected off the waters shine, making the batman statue and fountains glow bright in the dark.
The rain was loud as it hit the ground and rooftops. People were running into buildings, and others were walking calmly under their umbrellas. The sound of the occasional thunder resonated through the sky, followed by a quick flash of lightning.
"Well, there's only one thing left to do."
Max gave Yakko a questioning look. He was about to ask him a question, but Yakko quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him into the rain.
Yakko laughed as he felt the raindrops fall on top of his head and arms as he dragged Max away from under the covered pergola. "A little rain never hurts anyone!" He sat on top of the stair railings and slid down to the bottom, waving at Max to follow.
But Max didn't slide down. Instead, he quickly ran down the steps to meet him at the bottom. When he got down there, Yakko broke out into a sprint, making Max chase after him.
Yakko purposely stepped into every puddle he could find, making sure Max did too.
"I'm dripping wet!" Max called out as he grabbed onto Yakkos's sleeve to stop his running.
Yakko laughed as he caught his breath, "That's what she said!"
"Where were you planning on going?" Max asked as he pushed his now-soaked hair back.
"Everywhere!" Yakko happily shouted over the rain.
Max knew it was useless at this point, but he took his jacket off and handed it over to Max, "Here, take this."
Yakko looked at the dripping jacket, "Uhhhhhh, I hate to tell you this, Max..."
Max blushed as he grabbed Yakko's arm and pulled him in close. He draped the jacket over their heads and used it as a makeshift umbrella, "Well, it'll keep us from getting wetter."
Yakko smirked at the easily accessible sex joke, but it was too easy. Instead, he dramatically leaned into Max's shoulders, "Aw, I didn't know you cared."
Max gave him a soft smile, "Of course I care."
Yakko was caught off guard by the sentiment in his date's voice. He was expecting Max to be the one flustered up, not him. He didn't know how to respond to that heartfelt confession.
Max noticed Yakko stare at him, "What? You think I don't care or something?"
Again, Yakko had no idea how to respond. No one had ever genuinely told him they cared for him. His siblings did a few times, and so do his mentors from time to time... but it was different. When they said it, it felt more like an exchange. Yakko would give them something, and they would say it in return.
He's never given Max anything.
"Come on," Max said. It was his turn to drag Yakko somewhere. This time, it was away from the pouring rain; the bench he spotted was right under a large palm tree. "Proof that I care."
Yakko smiled as he sat down next to Max.
"You got quiet," Max said as he playfully poked Yakko's cheek. "Aw, you got all flustered, didn't you."
Yakko laughed, "No, I didn't!" He grabbed Max's hand, "I'm glad you care."
"I have a lot of care to give," Max said as he interlocked his fingers with his.
"So do I," Yakko replied with a warm smile, giving his hand a squeeze.
Max let go of his hand and moved in closer to him. Taking his arm and putting it over his shoulder on the bench. He was surprised by how smooth he was as Yakko adjusted himself against him.
"You're siblings must be lucky to have you."
"They better be," Yakko said jokingly, "They stress me out, but they're great."
"I bet. Being an only child get's boring sometimes. Like, it has its moments," he shrugged, "but, I don't know. My dad can be pretty suffocating."
"Wasn't that the plot for both of your movies?"
"It sure was. Gee, I wonder where Disney got that idea from."
Yakko laughed, "I get that. Our dynamic is pretty much the same on set too. When we film scenes, we have the habit of going off-script and doing our own thing sometimes, and the producers seem to like it because they don't cut it out half the time. They say it makes it more organic," he air quoted. "But I get your dad too. I feel like sometimes they forget how important they are."
"They as in me?"
"Yeah, you're too important for him to lose."
"I guess," Max stared out into the rain, "I was talking to Peej the other day about going off to college or something, and my dad took it pretty hard. So, you're probably right."
"Ohh, you're going to college? Which one?"
"I'm not sure yet, but it's just an idea since Disney is showing no signs of giving me major roles. As much as I like my cameos, I'd like to have my own thing."
"Have you petitioned for a reboot?"
"Is that what you did?"
Yakko scoffed, "No. We had no access to the outside world, so we were just as surprised when we found out they were picking us back."
"I see. I could petition for some sort of reboot, but my dad would be a part of it. Which isn't bad or anything, but I want to branch out. I want to make a name for myself instead of being known as Goofy's son."
Yakko laughed, "At least your dad seems fun. Not as fun as me but, he's up there."
Max stared at him before laughing and pulling him into a side hug, "You're annoying."
Yakko leaned into the hug, "Thanks, I know."
"Now that we're in the whole annoying topic, I was meaning to ask you: Are you just as big of a Shakespeare nerd in real life as you are on the show?"
"Alright, I take full offense to that comment, sir." Yakko sat up, "I'll have you know that Sir William Shakespeare is one of the most influential figures of classical literature of his time. Especially with his plays and poetry."
Max chuckled, "Is he?"
Yakko blinked, "Is he? Well, I don't know. Are you as good of a skater in real life as you are on the show?"
Max laughed. He had to admit, it was a good comeback. "Wanna find out?"
Yakko smiled as he squinted his eyes at him, "Show me." He leaned forward to let Max his arm from under him and watched as Max looked around the plaza. "I don't think you're gonna find a random skateboard lying around in the streets."
"Nah," Max dismissively waved his hand, "I brought my own." He reached into his hammerspace and pulled out his green skateboard. He threw it onto the ground, splashing in the puddles of water and rain. "I was looking for a spot that wasn't so wet for her, but I was gonna have to bust her out regardless, so, it doesn't matter."
Yakko smiled, "Ooh, you really need to watch what comes out of your mouth."
Max smirked. "Now watch me ride her."
Yakko kissed the palm of his hand, "Goodnight, everybody!" He leaned back into the seat and wrapped Max's jacket around himself.
Pushing himself off, Max rolled down the sidewalk and did a few tricks. He started with ollies and jumps, but he knew he had to do something to impress Yakko. As he rolled down the sidewalk, an idea clicked into his mind. "Yakko, follow me!"
Yakko got up and followed after Max. They ended up back at the steps of the theater, and Max pointed up at the railings.
"Watch this."
"Um," Yakko looked up at the railing and chuckled nervously, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, now stand over here and watch me."
"I don't think this is the best idea, Max," Yakko said as he stood over where Max was pointing.
"It'll be fine! Besides, you slid down the rails earlier."
"That's different! That slide down was an impromptu action. This isn't impromptu! You're planning this out, and things can go very wrong when toons plan things out... just ask Wild E. Coyote!"
Max laughed as he made his way up the steps. He was soaking wet, so he knew that he had to be careful on the way down. Max didn't want to slip off the board or get thrown off because the water was being annoying. But he trusted his skills, and his best friend PJ always told him that confidence was all he needed.
He took a step back and adjusted his skateboard under his feet. He needed to gain as much momentum as he could if he wanted to make the jump. He did a quick running start before hopping on and jumping onto the railings.
Needless to say, Yakko was impressed. He watched as Max slid down smoothly against the railings, the sound of metal scraping metal sharp in his ears. He took a few steps back as Max got towards the end and rode onto the concrete.
Max winked at him as he got closer, riding over a puddle, splashing water onto Yakkos slacks. He laughed as he continued to ride circles around him. "Does that answer your question?"
"It answered mine too," Yakko said as he looked down at his pants, "Also, wow."
Max hopped off and stepped on the end of his skateboard, causing it to lift up into his hand. He stuffed it back into his hammerspace and took a bow.
Yakko linked his arm with Maxs, and they continued to walk around the plaza, this time heading deeper into the town towards all the restaurants and shops.
There was soft music playing, getting louder as they got closer to the source. Even with the rain, there were still people eating outside of restaurants; and bands still playing under covered capes and tents. The people there probably thought they were a couple of lunatics for walking in the middle of the rain without an umbrella. They would have been right.
Max looked at the musicians. One of them made eye contact with him, and he sent them a quick head nod. The man smiled at him and gave him a wink. He didn't know what that wink meant until another band member gestured towards Yakko, who was busy pushing his wet hair back and shielding his eyes from the rain.
They wanted him to dance. Max looked at Yakko as they slowly walked across the open plaza. He could dance with him, but he had to make up his mind quick before they passed by and missed his chance.
The musicians smiled at the couple and switched up the music, playing an instrumental version of a love song.
Max didn't know what song it was until Yakko started to sing along softly. He looked over at Yakko and decided to shoot his shot. He grabbed Yakko and gently spun him around.
"What are you doing?" Yakko asked as he spun back to look at him.
"What does it look like?" Max felt his heart racing. He saw Yakko smile at him, so that must be a good sign, right?
"If you wanted to dance in the middle of the rain with an audience and a nighttime view, you could have just said so." Yakko grabbed Max's hand and pulled him close. Being in show business meant that he had a natural gift of breaking out in song and dance at any given time. And Yakko was always ready for a dance number.
The two danced and twirled in the rain. Fits of laughter and giggles with each turn and spin that the waltz brought on.
Max watched as Yakko laughed in front of him. They were so close; their noses were almost touching. Almost.
Kiss him.
No. Max shook the thought out of his mind. He couldn't kiss him now... he just couldn't. Max really wanted to, but there were too many people watching them dance like idiots in the rain, and Max didn't want to ruin the moment if things went wrong. He could already see the headlines at Disney.
Yakko slowed down as the music came to a soft rest before picking up its regular programming. Yakko pushed his wet hair back and wiped the drops of water off his face. He looked over at the musicians and gave them a thank-you wave. "Wow, they were nice."
Max waved at them too. He looked down at his watch and realized it was 9:30. His dad would be here to pick them up soon. "Let's head back towards the parking lot," Max said over the rain, "My dad's probably on his way to pick us up soon."
Yakko nodded as he followed Max back towards the way they came. He had fun. He already knew his siblings were going to ask him a million and one questions when he got back. Not to mention the interrogation from Bugs, especially since he'll be coming home soaked. He figured he could just use his toon talents and spin himself into a new outfit, but that would raise questions too.
And maybe his siblings were right. Yakko looked over at Max, who had raindrops dripping down his face and clothes. He blushed as he thought about him. Yakko knew he always liked him; he wouldn't be spending his Friday night with him, risking a cold if he didn't. But it was different now.
Max had made him smile and forget about a lot of things. They had a good conversation and shared idiotic moments together, the two things Yakko valued the most.
"Let's sit here," Max pointed towards a spot on the curb under a tree. "We're already wet, so I don't really think making an effort to get dry would make much of a difference."
Yakko sat down next to him and looked around. He reached into his hammerspace and brought out a bright yellow sun umbrella, sticking it into the cracks of the concrete.
Max stared at him, "You're telling me you had that the whole time?"
"Perhaps."
Max laughed as he facepalmed, "You never cease to surprise me. Didn't you think it could come in handy, oh, I don't know, a lot earlier?"
Yakko looked up at Max, "Then what would be the fun in that?"
Max couldn't argue with that. He had more fun in the rain than he did inside the theater. "You're right," he said as he sat down next to him, "We should do this again sometime."
Yakko raised an eyebrow, "Really?"
"Sure! I like spending time with you! You're funny and smart, crazy and interesting, and"- He saw Yakko stare at him with a smile.
"Go on..."
Max blushed, "No, I think you get my point."
Yakko laughed as he reached down to play with some rocks he found sitting beside him. "I had fun too," Yakko said. His heart was racing. "Hopefully, my siblings won't kill you before then."
"Why would they kill me?" Max asked.
"Because of this." Yakko reached over, closed his eyes, and kissed him.
Max kissed him back, reaching up to cup his face with his hands. He felt his cheeks glow red.
Yakko pulled away and cleared his throat, "Yeah, they'd probably kill you for that."
With a smile, Max reached back out and pulled Yakko in for another kiss.
Yakko didn't mind. He moved in closer, and Max wrapped his arm around him as he pulled away, "I guess I can die happy."
Yakko chuckled as he leaned into Max. They watched cars pass through the streets and people walking along the sidewalk. He had this beautiful feeling in the pit of his stomach that made him feel like he was flying.
"Sorry about dragging you into the rain," he said.
"Are you kidding? It was the best time I've had in years," Max replied, "10 out of 10 would do it again!"
"Good to know," Yakko laughed as he let Max squeeze him.
They were in a fit of giggles when Goofy's car pulled up in front of them. The car's headlights shone bright, illuminating every drop of rain that fell in front.
Yakko waved at Goofy as he stood up and walked towards the car. "Hey, , blame Max."
"Don't listen to him, dad. Blame the rain."
Goofy looked at the two soaked boys as they put their seatbelts on, "I take it you two had fun?"
"Yeah," Max replied as he looked over at his date. "Who knows, we might do it again next week," He looked over at Yakko, "If that's okay with you?"
Yakko looked at Max and gave him a warm smile, "Yeah, that's fine by me."
A/N:
And there you have it! You know I had to do it... Whooo! I hope this all tickled your feathers and you enjoyed the read. I had a lot of fun writing this. Feel free to leave a comment, and I'll see you all in the next one!
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Alrighty, I'll let you all go enjoy the rest of your day. Till next time! Happy Reads!