by Roaming Tigress
Chapter Five:
One in A Million
Sometime during the night, the plant-duck changed his mind about where he wanted to sleep. He quietly tiptoed into Steelbeak's bedroom and sat at the edge of the rooster's bed. Awww . . . He looks so peaceful. I really don't want to disturb him . . .
He indeed did look peaceful. Wanting to keep it that way, the plant-duck carefully slipped down beside him. Luckily for him, Steelbeak was too deep in his sleep to notice this. He was still fast asleep on his back, looking sweet and innocent as he possibly could. Bushroot nestled his head on Steelbeak's stomach like a pillow and dozed off to sleep.
Bushroot woke up to Steelbeak patting him on the shoulder. He was startled, but soon calmed down. "Oh, um . . . Good morning!"
I see ya blushin', Bushie. No need ta be shy wit' de Steelbeak. "Tell me, Reggie. What made youse change yer mind?"
He caught me off guard!
"I . . . Just thought . . . You needed some company!" Bushroot stammered, not really knowing what to say. "I hope I didn't want to disturb your sleep in any way!"
"Distoib my sleep?" Steelbeak laughed, resting his hands on Bushroot's head and gently massaged his scalp. "It takes a bit more den cuddlin' up ta me to wake me up! As fer givin' me company . . . T'anks."
Just thanks?! "You're welcome . . . "
Bushroot sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. "How about we have our villain-to-villain talk in the greenhouse?"
"Good location as any I suppose," Steelbeak shrugged. "Better den 'ere, anyway. I 'ate ta tell ya, but dere's hidden cameras and microphones in dis room. Ya see, F.O.W.L. gives their agents a lot of money, but dey sure don't give 'em privacy."
After a simple breakfast of cereal and orange juice, the two villains were all ready to go to their meeting place. Steelbeak drove Bushroot out into the countryside in his Jaguar, and wisely parked it half a mile away from the greenhouse. He did not wish to take the chance that a spy would report to High Command about the top agent working alongside a rival villain.
The moment Bushroot stepped into the greenhouse, he was greeted by an overwhelmingly happy Spike who knocked him down to the ground in exuberance.
"Hey, Spikey!" Bushroot grinned, patting him on the head. "Daddy brought a special friend home! Meet Steelbeak!"
Spike took immediate disliking to the stranger. He growled and backed him into a corner until Bushroot stepped in his way. The last thing he wanted was to have his jealous pet get in the way of the relationship.
"Take it easy, Spike, I know you don't like strangers, but Steelbeak is someone who won't hurt me! He's just a friend!" Bushroot spoke gently, watching the Venus fly trap hop off to hide underneath a table, leaving his master alone with the "intruder".
"Now I've seen ev'ry'ting!" Remarked Steelbeak, sitting into a wicker chair next to Bushroot. He slouched slightly and gave out an exasperated sigh, propping his head in his hands. "I suppose dis is a good time as any ta tell youse about what 'append all dose years ago?"
Bushroot got up and wrapped his arms around Steelbeak's massive shoulders. "Only if you feel you are up to it. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. I know how it feels when you want to tell someone about something that's not easily put into words."
"Very well, if youse insist . . . " Steelbeak whispered, sitting up in his chair. "Lemme get dis straight, Bushroot. I was never dis 'andsome. I was despised from birth, partly because I was an unplanned birth, but also because I was a 'orrid little scrawny creature, wit' a really nasty underbite and cleft lip ta boot. I was always ill, my mom never cared about my welfare, and my dad walked out on de family before I could learn 'ow ta speak. I was often abused, and because of dis I became belligerent and timid. In school, I was always picked on. Ya see, it was only until F.O.W.L stepped in dat I became a somebody."
Bushroot clung onto every word, his eyes misted over. I thought I had it pretty badly. "You don't have to continue if you don't want to."
"No, Bushroot, I must . . . " Steelbeak sighed. "In my youth, a few buddies and I stole cars fer fun. One day, when I was eighteen, I lost control of one of dose cars when it skidded across a sheet of ice. I ended up killin' two people before I crashed, and to dis day I'll never forgive myself fer dat. Neither can anyone else. Killin' dose people cause me more pain den what 'append to my beak. It was beyond reconstruction, despite de effort made by de doctors at de 'ospital. Dat's when F.O.W.L stepped in. If it weren't fer dem, I'd be dead."
Bushroot finally broke down and cried, giving Steelbeak a tight hug. "I'm so sorry!"
"Shhhh . . . Dere's no need ta be," Steelbeak murmured, gently rubbing his back and beginning to tear up himself. "So ya see, Bushroot, beyond ev'ry face , beyond ev'ry mask - - dere lies a story dat needs ta told one way or de ot'er."
Bushroot's tears soaked into Steelbeak's suit as he curled up on his lap. "If you insist, I'll tell you my story. I was humble scientist just wanting to make life more fulfilling for people. For a while, everything was doing fine. I figured that if plants could get energy from water and sun, then so could people. Things backfired, my funding was cut off, and I became a victim of my own experimentations."
Steelbeak knew there was more to Bushroot's story than what he had just heard. Eh, I won't ask. He's 'ad enough fer one day. Oh, what de 'eck! "I 'ope ya don't mind me askin' dis, but . . . When did you find out dat you were gay?"
"About a month ago," Bushroot shrugged. "I had one relationship with a woman, but it didn't last too long. I started developing romantical feelings toward other guys, but never really found anyone who suited me. That was until I met you."
"What do youse find in me?" Steelbeak asked curiously, nuzzling Bushroot with his beak and laughing quietly as he cringed from the cold metal.
"It's your charm and intrigue, Steelbeak. You're one in a million."
Disclaimer:
Darkwing Duck, Bushroot, Steelbeak and other characters mentioned are © Disney.
