Chapter Two:
The Calm Before the Storm
Steelbeak walked right past Darkwing as if he was in a trance. His mind was elsewhere, slowly and dangerously spinning into insanity. The agent had not even seemed to have noticed Amelia, the person whom he feared more than anything in the world. Nor did he take notice of Javert, who no more than a year ago, had nearly taken his life. Everyone but Roberto was invisible in his blind fury. The pure hatred in his eyes made the otherwise suave rooster look demonic.
A shiver of terror ran down Darkwing's spine. He could almost feel the tension build up inside Steelbeak, and wisely chose to stay in hiding. Sure, he had a temper, but never anything to this extent. Something was wrong with him, and he wanted to know about it.
"Either Steelbeak's gone mad or this is his Negaverse counterpart!" He quietly said to himself, watching the F.O.W.L agent's every move.
Body taut with rage, Steelbeak approached the trio from behind. In one quick, stealthy move he seized his father by the neck and pulled him away from the rest of the group.
Darkwing was beginning finally realizing the entire situation. Normally he'd jump in and break up such an attack, but in this case, he decided to let the villains duke it out. There were more invet
"Let's settle down an' 'ave a real father and son talk!" Steelbeak sneered, thrashing his father violently to the ground while the others jumped back in shock.
"I'll show youse who is unwoithy of bein' a Volatili!"
"This is only the calm before the storm, son!" Roberto gasped for breath, flailing and trying to push off his attacker. "Only cowards attack from behind!"
"Only cowards walk out on deir families!" Steelbeak seethed, tightening the grip on his throat. "Imagine youse, a sleazy lawyer.It fits youse so well, father!"
"I spent four and a half years in law school for this job, Valentino!" Roberto retorted, spitting him in the face just like he did forty years ago.
Steelbeak hissed in disgust, letting go to wipe the saliva off his face.
"Unlike you who just walked into the doors if F.O.W.L and joined a criminal organization!" Roberto growled, clenching his teeth.
"YOUSE 'AVE NO IDEA!" Steelbeak roared, slamming him against the sidewalk. "IF IT'S DE LAST T'ING I'LL DO, I'LL KILL YOUSE!"
"And ultimately winding up in deathrow!" Roberto added calmly, using his last strength to finally shove his assailant off. "I must say, the mask was an improvement. You don't look like the bell ringer of Notre Dame anymore but it doesn't hide the fack that you you're nothing more than a bastard son!"
"How dare youse walk out on de family when youse were needed most! Maybe if youse stayed t'ings wouldn't be like dey were!" Steelbeak yelled, reaching a hand into his jacket for a gun.
"Just a moment, Steel-For-Brains!" Darkwing shouted, arrogantly marching over to the crowd. "If anyone has to take care of these scumbags it'll be me, Darkwing Duck!"
"Scumbags?!" Amelia gasped, stepping back and helplessly watching her husband getting attacked. Fearing Darkwing would not believe her, she quickly thought up a believable lie.
"We were only out walking when this maniac attacked my husband!"
"He came out of nowhere!" Javert flustered. "I thought it would be nice to take my mother and father out for a walk. I suppose no neighbourhood is safe from the likes of thugs!"
"In your dreams, Javert!" Darkwing scoffed.
"I'm telling you, that's what happened!" Amelia
"Just who do you think are trying to fool?" Darkwing asked, twirling his gas gun with one finger and keeping a careful eye on her. "Trust me, I know what's going on with this!"
"And how would you know?" Javert asked suspiciously, placing his hands on his hips. "Have you been . . . Following us?"
"Lets just say I've been doing my research!" Darkwing said as a matter of factly, boldly approaching Steelbeak and calmly placed a hand on his shoulder. A split second later, he pulled it back as a flash of metal came viciously snapping at him.
"Well excuse me for trying to save your neck!" Darkwing gasped, raising an eyebrow. "You sure have a funny way of showing gratitude!"
"Don't youse dare interfere wit' dis, Dipwing!" Steelbeak yelled, trembling in anger. "Dis fight is between my father and me! Youse don't wanna 'elp me. Youse only wanna arrest me fer attacking an so-called innocent bystander!"
"That isn't true, Steelbeak . . . " Darkwing replied sincerely with a nod. "This time, I'm letting you go."
"Let him go? I demand you arrest him! The only place for filth like this is in jail!" Javert snapped, giving Roberto's attacker a well-aimed hard kick to the lower jaw.
Steelbeak's head was sent reeling back from impact. He involuntarily released his father as a sharp pain shot through what was left of his deformed, metal-encased natural beak. Grimacing painfully, he unsteadily got up onto his feet and drunkenly threw a punch at Roberto, whom Darkwing had just handcuffed.
Suddenly, a cloud of smoke surrounded Javert, and Steelbeak laughed in spite of himself. "Soives ya right ya moidering traitor!"
"Long time, no see, Valentino . . . " Amelia spoke coldly, approaching her son with an icy stare. Her left hand was raised and ready to strike. "What a charming little family-get together this has turned out to be. You even brought along a friend!" She added, scowling at Darkwing.
"Mother . . . ?" Steelbeak asked fearfully, slowly turning around.
The smoulder in his eyes vanished as anger was replaced with sheer terror. He cringed like a beaten child and looked around nervously. It had been many years since Amelia had threatened to strike him, but the memories stayed vivid. At the sound of a police siren, he panicked more.
"I see nothing's changed much!" She continued, circling Steelbeak threateningly. "You're still an ugly, cowering creature without a single redeeming feature!"
Without saying another word, Steelbeak fled.
"Wait, Steelbeak . . . !" Darkwing yelled, chasing after him and leaving the others behind.