Birds of A Feather Chapter 9: Under the Stars, a darkwing duck fanfic

Birds of A Feather

Chapter Nine:
Under the Stars

Disguised as an Eggman, Darkwing Duck followed Steelbeak into his apartment. As he got in, he sat on a red leather couch and took off the egg-shaped helmet. He felt slightly apprehensive, not having been in a relationship with another male. He was also worried that Steelbeak might manipulate him into a trap, in spite of helping him through rough times. Then there was the chance that FOWL would hear about this unusual bond, and "take care" of both avians.

To Darkwing, however, this bond was worth all the risks.

Steelbeak picked up on his uneasiness and frowned. Man is 'e uneasy. Dis is so unlike 'em. "What's de matter, youse don't trust me or somet'ing?"

"Ehhh . . . It's not that. Really!" Darkwing replied with a nervous edge, tugging at the collar of the yellow suit. "It's just that, well . . . I've never really, um . . . "

Am I bein' too forward? He backed away a bit from the mallard, giving him space. He couldn't help but to feel guilty.

"If I'm makin' youse uncomfortable -- "

Darkwing slipped out of the Eggman uniform and handed it to Steelbeak. Not wanting him to continue to feel bad, he shrugged off his nervousness.

"Nah, just . . . I get like this when the crime rate's slow, can't help but to feel someone's planning someone big. You know, the calm before the storm?"

With a nod, Steelbeak headed to his bedroom. Neglecting to leave the door closed, he removed his white jacket and placed it on a coatrack to dry. Spotting Darkwing Duck in the corner of his eye, he casually took off his red undershirt with the style of a stripper. Might as well put on a little show now dat I've got an audience. Heh, heh, heh . . .

"Erm, sorry . . . !" Darkwing grinned apologetically, sidestepping back into the hallway. "Didn't mean to intrude!"

Steelbeak tossed his shirt in the laundry basket and sat on his bed, patting a spot beside him. "Nahhh it's okay. I just 'ope I didn't distoib ya too much seein' me topless!" He cheerfully added with a playful wink.

"Nah, I've seen much worse stuff in my life!" He laughed, lying down on his back. "A giant chicken breast isn't too bad!"

"My chicken breast dat big?" Steelbeak smiled at this and looked down at the mallard. He tilted his head to one side, looking down at the resting mallard. "I know dere's somet'ing's troublin' yas, I jus' know it. Youse kin tell ol' Steels what it is!"

"Yeah, I guess there is something that's bothering me, " he murmured, looking up at the skylight with his arms folded up behind his head. "You see, I've never . . . Loved a man the way I would love a woman. If that makes any sense. "

"Makes poifect sense," Steelbeak replied, lying down next to Darkwing. "Youse see . . . It's somet'ing new yas discover about yerself." He became silent as he looked up at the stars, then spoke up again with cynicism in his voice.

"Dere ain't nothin' wrong wit' it!" He snarled, snapping his jaws at the sky as it to bite the Higher Powers that might be up there. "Love is love, although some religious groups would say otherwise."

"Very well put, Steelbeak. This relationship might have its obstacles, but I won't let anything stop it! Not the church, not F.O.W.L! Nobody!" Darkwing replied with determination.

"Ya know, it's kinda cute when ya get all detoimened like dat," Steelbeak chuckled, lightly elbowing him in the ribs. "Seriously, t'ough, I admire youse wantin' to keep dis relationship alive. Not too many people would take de risks."

Darkwing nodded once, and became curious at Steelbeak's negativity against religion. Should I ask, or not? "So . . . I take it you're not a churchgoer? Heh, not that I expect villains to be churchgoers - - "

"He never 'ad time fer me, so I never gave 'im any time," Steelbeak growled, his voice filled with such intensity that it sent a chill down Darkwing's spine. "If 'e really cared fer me, 'e would've found some way to stop my mom from treatin' me like trash, and deforming me in dis way. Besides, religion in gen'ral just bores me. I 'ave better t'ings ta spend my time den to sit in some stuffy church."

Hearing the anger in his voice, Darkwing regretted even speaking up about it. He touched Steelbeak's arm and grimaced painfully. He wished he was a crimefighter when he was growing up with the rooster. Perhaps he could've stopped the abuse, and helped guide him into a better life. If only I was there to help.

"Sorry I mentioned it . . ." Darkwing whispered, a slight catch to his voice. "I just wish I could've done something."

Steelbeak gently but firmly took hold of Darkwing's hand. "What was done, was done. Ya can't go back and change what 'append. I wish I could, but I can't."

"Do you suppose . . . It's possible for people to change, and like or even love each other, in spite of how they felt about each other in the past?" Darkwing asked, feeling a bit silly for asking.

Steelbeak spent a moment thinking this over, releasing his grip on the duck's hand. "I 'aven't t'ought much of it, but I suppose so. I guess it all depends on what de other person does to ya to make ya like 'em."

That's what I was waiting to hear. Darkwing remained silent, not wanting to interrupt Steelbeak should he have more to say. He stared briefly at the rooster's steel beak, wondering what it would feel to have such a contraption.

Imagine what it must be, to hide your past from the world. A modern Phantom of The Opera. With a shudder, he looked away. He had seen Steelbeak sans his "mask" and couldn't imagine how bad his natural beak would look now.

Steelbeak cupped a hand under the duck's bill, forcing him to look into his intelligent eyes. "If dat person opens deir heart and soul to 'onestly 'elp dem and put deir differences aside, den de answer is yes."

Normally Darkwing found making eye contact with the rooster to be unnerving, but this time it was a comfort. "Even if that someone was a pain in the tail feathers, got in the way of everything, stopped you from doing your job?"

Steelbeak nodded slowly, and gave him a light nuzzle with his beak. He made no attempt to pull away when Darkwing touched it. 'E's not gonna tear it off, I got nothin' ta worry.

"Consider yerself lucky if youse kin do dat!" Steelbeak smirked, kissing the tips of his fingers. He sat up to take off his pants and tossed them by the heat vent on the floor. He crossed his arms and gave Darkwing a playful scowl as he chuckled at his chicken drumstick boxers.

"Hey, hey, hey! Yer jus' jealous dat I got de last one on da rack, aren'cha?" He teased, flopping back down. He shut his eyes and "purred" lightly as Darkwing massaged one of his feet. Sometimes having a crimefighter around wasn't always so bad.

"Oh, horribly jealous! I just can't contain in!" Darkwing replied in mock jealousy. Taking Steelbeak by surprise, he ran a finger down the rooster's inner thigh and got a swift kick to the head. The impact was hard enough to send him flying off the bed.

"Hey! What was that for?!" He exclaimed while still on the ground, rubbing his forehead. He had felt like he had been kicked in the head by a horse. "You could've given me a concussion with that kick!" He was in the mood for a little action tonight, and quickly though of an idea that would trick the rooster into it.

With an apologetic grin, Steelbeak stuck his head over the foot of the bed to look down at his partner. Just by the look of his face, he knew he was less than pleased with him at the moment. "Sorry 'bout dat! I shouldda warned yas I'm a bit touch-sensitive dere!"

"Hmf . . . " Darkwing grunted, getting up and straightening out his clothes. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking as serious as possible to make Steelbeak think he was mad with him. "Apology not accepted! A kick like that could've caused serious brain damage! I should have you arrested for that!"

Having fallen for Darkwing's act, his iron jaw dropped in surprise. "It was an accident! Honestly!" He pleaded, dreading the thought of being tossed into jail among the other criminals. "Fer once I didn't mean ta bash yer 'ead in!"

"Oh didn't you?" Asked Darkwing, taking out a pair of handcuffs.