I had grown up thinking I was meant to do one thing, and one thing I thought I had practiced for through the years. That...was singing. With the support of my family and friends growing up, I'd practiced and practiced. I'd sung in the school chorus, in a group as well as solo. All through my young life thus far I'd sung my heart out.
However, life has a way of throwing things at you that you never would guess could ever happen. Joy and sorrow, expectations and surprises. There are things in this world, hidden away. Heroes, villains, treasures, adventures, music of all kinds in a way. So how did I end up stumbling into all of this when all I thought I wanted to do...was sing?
"Tonight's the big night for you girly-girl!" the blonde drake exclaimed while bursting into my room and throwing an arm around my shoulders.
Now in an armlock, I gasped for air while trying to finish brushing my hair, "Dive! Not breathing!"
"Sorry sis, I'm just so proud of you!" he proclaimed as he released me.
"I wish you and Wing could be there," I mentioned
"So do we, but try outs are this afternoon. We could try and get there in the middle of it, but it would be hard if we go over even a little late," Nosedive sighed as he began sifting through my ever tangled necklaces in the jewelry box on my dresser.
"This one! It's pretty!" he decided while handing me a twist lock necklace.
This one was crafted together with various beads in differing purple shades. At the center was a twin heart charm with shimmering violet, lavender, and teal catching the light of my lamp in it's metalic sheen.
"You and Wing got that for me when we went camping as kids," I recalled with a wistful smile curving my beak.
"Exactly! So in a way we'll be with you!" he insisted, "And it's not too tight around your neck."
"I don't think that part is something to worry much about," I mentioned playfully.
"Hey, you never know," he shrugged while stepping behind me to secure the charm around my neck.
Once it was in place I glanced at the mirror to watch the charm fall just beneath my collar bone. The dress I wore had an off shoulder cut at the top with the stardust silver-blue top and middle clinging to my slender, but curved frame. At my hips the soft lavender moon flower patterened skirt gradually opened in a handkerchief style that reached my ankles at some points. Up those ankles was a pair of short black, crushed velvet dress boots. The sleeves were only the straps of the dress itself, leaving my shoulders and arms quite bare. Seeing this, my brother found a bracelet that matched the necklace with the shades of jewels glistening along my right wrist. On my middle finger he insisted I add a ring to go with it.
"Good thing Mal and Tanya went shopping with you!" he then teased while I began fixing my hair.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I raised a brow at this remark.
"Well, I know your head kinda swims when it comes to formal wear, or fashion at all," he nudged my elbow while I tried to pull my hair up into a half bun of some sort.
"And you're any better Dive?" I questioned with a good natured smirk, "Just wait until you have to wear a suit for your first sports dinner!"
"Gah! Don't remind me! Those ties could strangle a guy!" he winced.
"Having fun you two?" a voice chimed in from the hallway.
The two of us looked to find a white feathered drake wearing his best practice jersey. Over one shoulder he carried a teal and white duffle bag with his goalie gear cleaned and ready inside. In his other hand was a refolded up newspaper. Seeing my attempt at my long burgundy hair failing, he set down the pack and walked over.
"Here," he offered as I gave up and let him fix it for me, "The white ribbon you have might go with it better, and your feathers?"
"You think so?" I asked while slipping it out of another trinket box and handing it over my shoulder to him.
Our older brother prompted, "You've held onto it since you were 7?"
"Oh yeah! From back on the school playground right?" Dive pondered aloud while watching Wing finish with my hair.
"Yeah, the bigger kids didn't like me singing on the swings...so they started throwing rocks at me. I was waiting for Wildwing to pick me up I think? Where were you then?" I tried to remember while looking at Dive.
"I think mom picked him up for a doctor's appointment, but you couldn't go, and I thought I'd get there in time before you got out from school," Wildwing mentioned as we remembered together.
"That sounds about right," I nodded.
"I just remember crying and trying to get off the swingset, but they wouldn't stop because nobody was there, and..." I trailed off, "I think my hair got caught on the swing chain?"
"You said one of the middle schooler's was walking by and saw it?" Wildwing asked with a smile curving his beak.
"I guess so, though I'm not sure how he would get there before you?" I realized with a slight shrug, "but he told them all to back off. When they saw an older kid than them they got out of there pretty quick."
"You were still stuck though?" Nosedive asked.
I nodded my head while running a hand over the base of my head where I remembered trying to pull it free. A wince of a memory was caught in my beak. Then my shoulders eased as I recalled the young teenager at the time walking over and helping me to get free. He hadn't torn a single burgundy strand to unweave it from the chain.
"He made sure I wasn't hurt by the thrown rocks or anything," I said, "And then he gave me the ribbon. He'd said it was for his mom, but that he could get another one easily enough. I tried to tell him it was okay, but he said not to worry about it."
"And you never saw him again after that? I mean he could have moved or something I guess," Wildwing realized through his own question.
"He never gave me his name," I replied with a shrug, "So it would be hard to even find that out really."
"Aw, your first crush," Wildwing teased, "and he was gone before I got there."
I knew that my white feathers weren't doing a good job of hiding the red in my cheeks as I exclaimed, "I was just a kid!"
"So? You can have a crush when you're 7, didn't stop Nosedive with that super hero girl he was reading about?" Wildwing nudging our brother's arm.
"She was cool okay?!" Nosedive exclaimed in defense.
Wildwing and I couldn't help but share a chuckle. With this, I did find myself feeling a bit better about the night before me. Though it would have been nice to have my brothers go with me, I hoped that their encouragement would see me through.
I then noticed the newspaper again and asked, "Anything interesting happen?"
"Just another heist pulled off by the Brotherhood of the Blade. I wish the Order of the Light would catch these guys," Wildwing replied, "I'm sure they're busy with other villains to chase after, but the Brotherhood has been a nuisance lately."
"Nobody's been hurt have they?" I asked.
Wildwing shook his head, "No, but it's still a problem. These thieves are getting away without even a trace found."
He then added, "Apparently a few gems that the museum got are their next target, and they plan to strike soon."
"Not a lot we can do about it bro," Nosedive shrugged, "besides, we have our own things to worry about tonight!"
"I know, but I can't help it. If I could ever be a part of that group, maybe I could help defend this city from problems like this?"
"You've been saying that since you were a kid," Nosedive mentioned, "but you also want to play hockey remember? Isn't that why we're trying out for a team tonight? Let the cops deal with them, and get your head back together, man!"
Wildwing gave a bit of a laugh, "Alright, alright. I guess I did get carried away there. I can't help but worry when I hear about things like this."
"We know, Wing," I replied with a smile.
"Oh, there's also a new movie being made," Wildwing then added as he glanced at the paper on the bed.
"Oh, yeah! The adventure flick! Doesn't it have that one drake in it? The one from all those pirate movies and a bunch of other stuff?" Nosedive chimed in.
"L'Orange right?" I asked.
"That's it!" Nosedive snapped his fingers, "He's got a lot of the ladies attention playing the hero, I heard some girls at the mall going crazy over him."
I couldn't help but raise a brow at this, "Really?"
"When you make it big, you might meet him yourself, sis!" Nosedive insisted.
I shook my head, "I'm not really worried about that Dive. I'm sure he's nice enough and everything,
"And I'm sure you two will be great out there on the ice!"
"You'll be great too sis! Just sing your heart out like you do around us, and you'll be just fine!" Nosedive assured.
"There's more to it than that Dive," I told him.
"I know, but that's the most important part! You can do this!" he insisted while pulling me into a tight hug.
"You sure you know how to get there?" Wildwing asked.
"I believe so, and I'll leave early to make sure I get there in time," I said.
Or so I thought...An hour later, not long before the show, I found myself wandering the streets. My directions were trying their best to guide me, but the buildings seemed to tower over me as I walked. I was in the right district, I at least that's what I told myself over and over.
I was so busy trying to find my way, that I failed to notice the footsteps that drew nearer, growing louder, and causing me to finally look up a bit too late. A greedy grin crossed the weasel's face that sneered at me, "Did you lose your way little lost ducky?"
I backed up, but into the bulky build of his friend standing behind me. Before I could try and run, he grabbed for me. I managed to hop away to the side. Yet he quickly reached for my arm, taking a hold of my jacket sleeve and yanking me back, "Time to pay up little duckling!"
This bear of a thug would have still been short to a duck like my friend Grin, but was taller than me still.
"Let go!" I snapped as I tried to wrench myself out of his grip.
"Sorry, but times are hard! I need a new coat like-"
I kicked him in the stomach before he could finish. Yet as he doubled over gasping for breath, his friend quickly clamped a paw down on my shoulder to pull me back.
Suddenly the bear gave a growling yelp as something struck his forehead. His claw tipped hands released me and he went stumbling back into the trash can nearby. I turned to see as he stumbled into the dirt and garbage, his toothy maw snarled in disgust as we all looked to find someone standing between us.
"Don't ya know how to treat a lady, ya cretins?" asked a Brooklyn accented voice, hinting at the calm irritation it harbored.
"Who do you think you are?!" the slippery thug demanded while hopping to his feet.
"Surprised ya don't recognize me," the drake before me shrugged casually, "None the less, I'd back off before things get much harder on ya."
The bear looked a bit closer at the dark feathered duck standing between us. He gave a chuckle, "Well look who we've got here! It's the famous adventure star!"
I couldn't help but look up at the lean framed drake before me. It quickly became quite apparent that they were right about who was standing in the alley with us. Dressed in a black button down shirt, a burgundy gillete vest, and dark trousers tucked into his high boot cuffs, the drake stood nearly a foot over me. His gray feathered hair was done up in his signature style, with a short ponytail at the base of his neck. His sleeves were folded up to just above his elbows, and his hands were slipped into ebony gloves.
"What a payday!" the weasel chortled with greedy glee, "Give us what you've got and no one has to get hurt!"
"Sorry, but I don't intend to pay ya a thing. In fact, I'd suggest ya leave while I'm being generous," he replied, maintaining a smooth tone.
"Are you kidding?! It's two against one, and have you seen my friend? He could pin you against the wall with one paw!"
"Try it then?" he invited, not budging from where he stood before me.
"You asked for it, when I'm done you won't be using that face of yours to make a living-!"
As the bear went to strike, the lean figure standing between us pushed me back and then side stepped out of the way. His slender frame proved hard to hit as he ducked under the following flying fist. As the weasel joined in, drawing a pull a dagger he had strapped to his leg, the adventure star lunged forward with his own blade shimmering into life as he grabbed it by the hilt. A saber of gold sliced through the air and knocked the long knife out of the thug's paw. With the metallic clatter upon the ground, the weasel looked up in frightened awe, "I thought it was all show!"
"Don't ya know I do my own stunts?" the drake taunted smoothly, "Now get out of here, unless I need to show ya how skilled I really am with this?"
The two flew from the scene, disappearing down the dark alley. I found myself too frozen to take the chance and run as well. Instead, I remained standing just behind the lean framed stranger, who seemed to be keeping mind of where I was especially when he'd slashed his blade in warning to them. When it was quiet, he lowered the blade and spun on his heel to face me. I took a half step back from him, but I didn't look away. My thoughts swam as I took in what all had just happened. Adrenaline lingered as I managed not to tremble in my attempt to keep my composure.
"Are you alright, sweetheart?" he asked while looking over me.
I attempted a nod, "Y-Yeah..."
It finally registered for me just who I was talking to. While training to sing, it was impossible to ignore his name in adventure films over the last decade.
"Y-You're...?" I stammered, finding my voice to be nearly gone again.
He gave a charming smile. My heart skipped, but it could have been from finally taking in what all had just occurred.
"Duke L'Orange at your service, Miss?" he gave a swift bow with a hand over his heart, and the other offered to me.
To my continued surprise, I placed my hand in his, "Oh...it's Heart. Heart Flashblade."
"A lovely name," he said while lifting my hand to his bowed head, brushing a kiss over my fingers.
I knew my white feathers weren't hiding the red blush rushing to my face. He looked to see, and I watched that smile turn into a playful smirk, "Was that your first kiss I jus' stole?"
I couldn't hide it if I wanted to. His deep brown eyes met with mine briefly before he stood up again.
"Th-Thank you for helping me," I managed to say.
"Don't mention it Miss Flashblade, I'm glad I could help," he replied sincerely.
I was adjusting my coat and brushing the dirt off the skirts of my dress, relieved that nothing had been torn in the scuffle. My heart still raced a bit, my frame giving up the fight against trembling.
"Ya have quite a bit of fight in ya," he noted, maintaining a friendly tone.
"My brothers taught me to stand up for myself," I mentioned while brushing off my sleeve.
"I can see that," he replied, "but what are ya doin' wanderin' the streets in the first place?"
"I was on my way to the club I'm supposed to sing at tonight," I informed, showing him the display on my phone, "Do you know it?"
He gave a nod, "I've been there pretty often actually. If you'd like I can escort ya there?"
I tried to shake my head, "You don't have to do that, you've helped me so much already! You probably have places to be, and people to see."
"Wouldn't matter either way, I wouldn't feel right leavin' ya alone after bein' jumped like that," he insisted.
"That's very kind of you..." I said sheepishly as he held his hand out to me.
His answer was a steady smile as I accepted his offer.
While we walked along, I found my nerves jumping more than when I'd been in trouble moments ago. Glancing up at him, I was able to get a good look at the drake other girls would die to have a chance to be this close to. Or so I'd heard from my brother when talking about his movies. It almost didn't feel real.
"So you're goin' to sing tonight?" he asked when he noticed me looking up at him still.
I quickly snapped my focus back to the street ahead, taking note of the building and street names. Finding my voice again, I replied, "Yeah...it's my first real gig."
"Mind if I stick around to give a listen?" he inquired.
"Really, you don't have to do all of this," I protested in vain, "I mean I can't really stop you...but I'm sure you have places to be."
"Nah, I'm done with work tonight," he told me.
"Oh, were you filming a new movie or something?" I asked.
He gave a soft chuckle, "Somethin' like that. There were cameras involved, but I guess it was more of a trainin' for stunts I need to perform."
"That's amazing, you do your own?" I couldn't stop myself from being carried away in this excitement.
He nodded his head, "It scares the heck outta my manager though."
I couldn't help but giggle a bit to hear this, "I'm sure it does. Though from what I saw, there doesn't seem to be much reason to-! What happened to your arm?"
Duke and I both paused in our steps as I now noticed the slash in his upper sleeve. Thinking back on the scuffle, I couldn't recall them striking him, but there was a decent cut in the fabric, and there was a bit of blood trying to stain it. The drake glanced at the wound and shrugged, "Must have gotten a lucky hit. It's not too bad."
"Should we take you to a doctor or something?" I asked, "I'm so sorry, I-!"
"Heart this isn't your fault. I'll be fine," he insisted with surprising cheer in his tone, "It's nothin' a bandage can't patch up. Besides, we need to get ya to that club."
"You're hurt though," I barely registered that I was supposed to be on a stage in ten minutes.
"It's fine sweetheart, trust me," he chuckled, "I'll take care of it once we're there. Now come on."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, Miss Flashblade," he assured while taking me by the hand again.
Soon we were at the club, and the scheduling assistant yanked me away before I could say much of anything, "We were starting to wonder if you were going to show up!"
"I'm sorry...there was some trouble getting here...and my friend-"
"We'll find him a seat! Now, come on!" she pushed me along to the back of the stage to get me ready.
Before I disappeared from his view, I looked back to Duke to find him giving a pleasant wave. I wanted to thank him again, but was pulled away before I could.
Hardly minutes later and my name was announced to the crowd. As the curtains parted to reveal me standing in front of a backdrop resembling a star filled night sky, I looked out through forced narrowed eyes. The lights that focused on me were near blinding it seemed, burning through my eyelids. I blinked the tears out once or twice to let them adjust, as I did, I tried to steady my racing heartbeat in my chest. The musicians at the foot of the stage were waiting for my cue, and I could feel the words I needed to sing sticking to my throat.
This had never happened before...my entire life I'd just wanted to sing. Yet now, as I looked out over the audience, I found I was trembling beneath my feathers!
That is...until I noticed him sitting towards the back. The drake that had just saved my life, watching with that steady smile from before. Still my heart in my chest raced, but in a different manner than moments ago. I noticed through the bright lights of the stage, that he had tended to his arm as promised. Yet some part of me felt that just wasn't enough. I wanted to thank him.
So...
Taking a breath, I started to find the words I had practiced over and over in my room. My voice gained it's strength as the music strummed up into the air. As I did, I noticed couples listening in with their heads resting against shoulders or the other's hair. For I was singing about love and magic, topics I had always been attached to growing up. My brothers had raised me on the tales of heroes, whether from the world we lived in, or ones from fairytales. Now, if only for one night, I had been saved by one that seemed to masquerade as a movie star. Not only that, but he was now listening to this song as well, but he was nodding his head along to the tune.
As I went from one song to the next, the tempo picking up into the rock ballad I was covering, I thought I noticed Duke looking over his arm a moment. I worried that he was more hurt than he'd let on. Yet as quickly as he did this, did he look back seeming a bit surprised by something. This pushed me to keep going, singing my heart out as I'd grown up wanting to do.
With a smile curving my singing beak, I barely noticed a soft glow washing over me that didn't match that of the lights. Too engrossed in the performance, I ignored this for the moment and sang on. At one point I realized Duke had left his seat, seemingly vanishing from the crowd, and then returning not long after this. Still I didn't stop for a solid hour, as scheduled...but it barely felt that long when I was done. Still my heart raced as I took my bow, but as I did I caught sight of Duke approaching the stage, before slipping to the back quite abruptly.
When I went towards the back myself, I found a white furred wolf waiting. He stood in nicely dressed clothes with a familiar emblem etched onto his jacket. My brother had shown it to me a number of times as he idolized them growing up. He stood with his hands in his pockets as he approached me. With a grin over his long nosed face, he said, "That was quite a show miss. I'm impressed."
"Thank you," I replied, still coming off the adrenaline rush of being up there singing.
"I must ask, how did you pull off that trick earlier on? I'm curious?" he asked rather directly.
I tilted my head in a bit of bewilderment, "What trick?"
"The light about you during that ballad, it was quite dazzling. I was convinced it was some manner of stage trick," he told me.
I shook my head, "Oh, no. I'm not sure what that was. Why?"
He raised a brow at this, "You mean to tell me you weren't in control of such a thing? That's very curious indeed."
"Maybe the stage crew had something to do with it?" I suggested with a bit of unease creeping up my spine now.
He shook his head now, "I already asked them about it, they said it had come from you."
At this I glanced down at my own hands, the adrenaline of the performance being replaced with that of confusion, "I...I just sang..."
"Tell me dear...this seems to be a new thing for you?" he inquired, "I'd be more than happy to help you with it, if that's the case?"
"Y-You mean magic?" I asked.
"That would be interesting now wouldn't it?" he chuckled pleasantly, "Though it could also be dangerous if you don't know how to control it. Right?"
Before I could answer, a voice smooth, but firm spoke up from behind me, "Heart?"
I turned to see Duke walking up. Stepping quickly between us, he turned and handed me my very first bouquet of roses, "You were amazin' up there sweetheart."
"Duke?!" I gasped as I cradled the bushel of flowers gingerly, "You didn't need to...Wait, how's your arm?"
"It's jus' fine, stop worryin' about it so much," he chuckled.
When I turned to address the wolf again, I found he had walked away. Duke had glanced over with me, but I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of a glare in his eye when I did.
"Duke?"
He shook his head and suggested rather abruptly, "Let me walk ya home okay?"
"Duke, really, I don't want your fans attacking me for getting all this attention from you," I attempted to protest.
"I insist Miss Flashblade," he said in his smoother tone, "I don't want anyone tryin' to hurt ya again."
"I can call a cab or something?" I mentioned, "I'm going to get paid for the show."
"Heart," he said, the concern in his voice showing through, "Please? Jus' trust me on this?"
"O-Okay?" I replied, but found myself doing just that.
After I was paid, and we got a bite to eat, Duke began escorting me home. As we walked, I gently clutched the roses. He noticed this and gave a soft smile, "Ya like 'em? I wasn't sure what ya liked, so I went with roses."
"They're lovely, thank you," I insisted, "But...is something wrong?"
"What makes ya ask that?"
"Did you know that guy back there?"
"Not really, but I did overhear some of what was bein' said to ya," he replied.
"I'm not sure what that was earlier," I admitted, "It could have been an odd trick of the light...?"
Duke quickly put a fingertip to his beak, guiding me to caution as he looked over his shoulder. We both got a good scan of the area before he turned back to me. A smile crept over him as he said to me, "I'm not so sure on that, Miss Flashblade."
"What makes you say that?" I inquired.
"Well...when ya started to glow like that, I felt somethin' odd on my arm. Checkin' over it afterwards, I found the wound was completely healed up, as though it weren't even there before," he answered.
I wondered how he could be so calm telling me this. For my own eyes widened to hear about it, and they looked to his arm to see the bandage no longer peeking through the fabric of his torn shirt. He moved it around to show that the slash in his feathers and flesh was no longer there.
"So then, it...it was magic?" I stammered.
"I believe so; at least I think I've been around it enough to guess that it was," he replied.
In less than a few hours, everything I knew and wanted were being jumbled around. I had just sung at my first gig, after having my life saved by a star, and now magic was apart of my life? I looked to my hands, the thoughts in my head spinning.
"How? I mean...I don't...You've seen this before?"
"Not this exactly, but I've seen my share of magic. It never gets old to me though," he said while giving me space to take this in, "are you okay though?"
"I mean...I don't really know...? I didn't know I could do anything like that," I told him.
Then I mentioned, "That guy back there mentioned trying to help me? To control it I guess?"
Duke raised a brow at this remark, but then replied, "Heart...I wouldn't worry about what that guy said too much."
"I recognized the emblem on his jacket, the order of the light? Maybe they could help me figure this out?"
With a sigh, Duke commented, "The order of the light...I'm sure they are tryin' to help people...an' some of them really do...but when it comes to stuff like this, I don't think they're any better equipped to help ya than anyone else I can think of. They don't use magic from what I understand, so how can they help ya do that?"
"So what do I do then?" I asked him as though I would ask advice from any close friend.
Then I remembered who I was talking to, and backed up from him, "This isn't your problem...when...when I get home, maybe my brothers can help me figure this out."
My head was swimming, and I think he knew that. For he then said gently, "Miss Flashblade, don't be afraid of this, okay? I can't imagine the shock that's goin' through your head right now, but you should know that this is quite a gift you've got there."
"How do you know so much about this?" I asked, finding some composure as I looked up at him.
With a bit of a smirk, he answered, "There's a reason I play the roles I do, the adventurer an' explorer. I've been interested in magic since I was barely passed bein' a hatchling. However, I quickly learned that magic wasn't in my reach naturally, nor was gettin' to be a hero as others were. So I used what skills I learned to study magic in other ways, an' play the hero for others to watch instead."
Something felt a bit off from his words. I soon recognized what it was, and heard myself say, "I don't think you just play the hero, Duke."
He looked to me, seeming slightly stunned by those words, and then turned away, "That's sweet of ya to say."
"What should I do then?"
"Don't let anyone tell ya that this is anythin' short of a gift, for one," he replied, "an' keep singin' like ya did tonight if that's what ya want to do."
With every word, I felt my cheeks growing warmer beneath my feathers. Seeing this, he chuckled again, and then added, "It's not the first time you've had to do that right?"
Then I noticed him looking at my hair, as he tilted his head and sighed, "I thought ya looked familiar before...but I wasn't sure until I noticed that when they took ya back stage."
I followed his gaze to my shoulder where the ribbon had slipped down after my braid broke free during the fight. Looking to him again, my own eyes widened, "Wait? Are you...?"
"It seems so, I'm surprised ya still have that though?"
"You remember that?"
"Of course I do," he said.
My head was trying to process all of this at once. Not only had this drake saved my life this night, but he was the very same that had stepped up to help me all those years ago. There was also apparently magic in my veins, and I felt that I knew this to be true. For as I looked back over the years, singing to my friends when they were hurt...it now started to piece together in my head why they never needed band-aids for very long. Same with Nosedive and Wildwing, but I felt now that we just hadn't realized it back then.
"I've heard magic comes in small bursts here and there," I mentioned finally, "and tonight...when I knew you were hurt...I guess...this is all..." I somehow found some composure and said, "It was very kind of you to help me...both then and now, and I think I just wanted to help you too..."
"I would have helped ya either way, then and tonight," he assured.
It was now that I realized he'd been guiding me along towards home, taking brief pauses to allow me to take in things as they came. The shock hadn't warn off by any means, but at the same time...I at least felt safe with him there to take this in with me.
For the moment, however, Duke glanced upwards while we walked, taking a breath of his own, "It's been quite a night hasn't it? An' a late one."
When he did this, I attempted a brief look over him. He'd very much grown up from the thin, but bold preteen I'd met once by chance. Now he had quite a lean, but strong frame that the cut of his shirt and vest hinted at.
"It's funny to think that the kid that stood up for me all those years ago grew up to be a star," the words slipped before I could stop them, "You really do live up to how I remember you."
My hands flew to my beak in an attempt to clamp it shut, but it was too late. I saw his widened eyes, as well as heard his soft chuckle; and yet I tried to look away from both. Then he asked while stifling his laugh a bit, "Is that so?"
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to...I'm sure you have plenty of fans that would love to get your attention, or something..." why wasn't I making sense? I took a breath and simply said, "I'm just glad to see you again, and that you're doing so well."
"I feel the same way, sweetheart," Duke assured me with a kind smile on his beak.
Despite everything rolling around in my head, I was a bit reluctant to find my home standing before us. The lights were on, signaling my brothers were home. From inside I could hear excited laughter, and outside I could see the car of Wildwing's best friend. Though this brought some relief for me to see, I found I didn't want to step away just yet.
"I guess they made the team," I mentioned.
"Oh?"
"Wildwing and Nosedive, they were trying out for the hockey team here in Anaheim, with Canard. They must have made the tryouts," I explained.
"Fellow hockey fans huh? I can respect that," he smiled with nostalgia in his eyes.
He then looked to me and asked, "Are you goin' to be alright? You've taken in a lot in one night."
To my surprise, I nodded my head. As I did, I realized that I felt rather okay about what I had learned. This brought me to admit, "In a way it makes sense. There were times as a kid...where Dive or Wing were hurt, and after hearing me sing...they felt better. They healed up in such a short time, but we never questioned it."
"So what will ya do, knowin' this now?"
"I...I'm not really sure," I said, "When I got up this morning, all I knew was that I was going to sing tonight. I did, but there was much more to it than that."
Then I added, "Nonetheless, thank you for being there. I'm sorry if I stole your attention from something more important."
"Don't ya fret over me, an' I was glad to be there. I hope to see ya around again in fact," he insisted.
Could he hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears at these words? Whether he could or not, he then stepped back to give a polite bow, "Tonight was quite an honor, Miss Flashblade, until next time, I wish ya a good night."
"Please stay safe as well, Duke," I replied, knowing full well that he could see me blushing when he glanced up at me.
He swept up my hand once more, and brushed my hand with a swift kiss. Then he stood up, smoothly stepping away, and headed back down the street. Though I noticed he wouldn't step out of sight until I went inside. To this we exchanged a wave, and then I did just that.