AN: Oh boy, another fanfic published in less than a year? I know, I'm just as stunned as you all are.
Anyways, believe it or not, this was the first fanfic idea I've thought of, even before Unloved (if you haven't read it yet, please do… or don't… either way, it's fine…). But regardless, I hope y'all have fun reading this, and lemme know what you think (or don't. It's fine… please do though. I love reading everyone's comments!)
Enjoy! ^_^
Disclaimer: I do not own Animaniacs. Warner Bros. does.
xxx***xxx
Filming Day Gone Wrong
The Warner Bros. Movie lot is always busy. Many people are working inside and out, making props and costumes for the next movie and/or television series, and actors reading and memorizing their lines word for word and thinking of a right way to show it.
In one specific studio set are the cast and crew for Animaniacs. The episode they're working on is 1800's themed. The many tables set for a saloon were scattered about, the interior design, consisting of a typical saloon bar, stools, and bottles lined up on the shelves, being set up for the next scene, and many other props for different scenes were laying elsewhere, so as not to be in the way of the camera.
While the director was going over the lines with a few actors and making sure they get it right, the Warner brothers (and the Warner sister) are casually sitting back on two of the many tables in the shot. Yakko is standing next to his youngest sibling, going over the script and pointing out the many flaws in one page alone.
Dot agreed with a nod, complaining about certain lines that didn't make much sense to her because of its inaccuracy and randomness. However, her annoyance turned into adoration the moment she brought up her costume, wanting to compliment whoever designed it because "it looks fabulous!"
Wakko on the other hand, hasn't said much since they arrived at the studio set this morning. He's sitting on the other saloon table next to his sister, slightly leaning forward and hugging himself, ignoring his own script laying next to him. He feels too tired to even listen to what they were saying, and with every other word fading in and out, he's not able to process much, so he was better off tuning them out altogether.
Normally, the middle Warner would sit back and listen to what his siblings were saying, not one to talk much anyways. He didn't mind it. He didn't see any problem just sitting back and let his siblings ramble on about anything they had in mind, who to antagonize and whatnot. On some occasion he would jump in to say his two cents, or come up with whatever idea he could conjure up to antagonize their "special friend" of the day.
Most of the time though, he's kept to himself.
Today on the other hand, was much different. As time goes on, he was feeling less and less like himself. His stomach is growling loudly, making itself heard, but that was to be expected most of the time, considering his appetite. What wasn't so normal however, was the lightheadedness that's been with him all afternoon, and the exhaustion coming with it. He could barely keep his eyes open and his brain feels so foggy he can barely think straight.
He thinks back to the last time he's had anything to eat, which has been too long for his liking. Before arriving at the studio, he ate thirty-two pancakes and two dozens of donuts which, despite the massive amount, didn't last very long.
He looks over to where the food table used to be, questioning himself on why food wasn't being provided for everyone anymore. In all the years of working for Warner Bros., whether it was for the original Animaniacs, or this reboot they're doing right now, there was always a table holding a huge variety of food, whether it was sandwiches, cupcakes, chips, or anything of the like.
Seeing it's lack of presence just doesn't feel right to him.
His eyes are getting heavy, and he feels like he's about to doze off, but before his brain had a chance to shut down any further, the middle Warner shakes his head, a dizzy spell followed immediately after.
This was another thing that's been happening all afternoon, but instead of it being consistent, the dizziness was coming and going. It was getting harder and harder to ignore all the symptoms, and the longer he waits, the worse he feels. He's so hungry, he can't think of anything besides food, and why the food table has been confiscated.
He glances in Yakko's direction, seeing the eldest Warner walk away from the table with the script in his hand. He was always good at taking care of him and Dot, whether they were sick, injured, or not. He's been with them all their lives, and he knows their tics, nervous habits, and anything in between.
Yakko wasn't aware of the middle Warner's condition at first. Being stuck in the water tower for so long without anything to eat or drink took a toll on all of them, especially Wakko. The last thing he remembered he was told to take a nap in hopes of feeling better, which then turned into a deep state of unconsciousness. He had no memory of what happened after that. But the first thing he saw when he woke up again was the worried looks on both of his sibs' faces, tears in their eyes, and he was pulled into a tight, but welcoming hug. He was very confused as to what happened, but was informed by Yakko that eating was not only a part of his character, it was essential for him.
It wasn't until much later, after they escaped the water tower they now call home, that they found out what happened to Wakko, and why it was important for him to eat.
Ever since that time he passed out, his older brother, as well as his younger sister, had made sure he had something to eat at all costs, whether it was a light snack, or a heavy meal. Unless it was a certain food he didn't like, Yakko and Dot had never refused to feed him anything, nor have they ever said he was only allowed to have some types of food.
It was harder to keep himself fed well enough being stuck in the tower for over sixty years.
Now that the food table isn't here anymore, and that he's in a state of needing something to eat right here right now, he's at a loss on what to do. It was almost like they were stuck in the water tower again... Almost.
Looking over at the only one who would know what do in a situation like this, he gets down from his table and walks over to him.
The eldest Warner was getting ready to convince the director to change some of the lines in the script, but felt a tug on his slacks and a small and weak "Yakko?"
He turns around and sees his younger brother holding on to his pant leg with one hand, and the other hand placed on his stomach. "What's up, baby bro," he asks.
"I don't feel so good," the middle Warner weakly answers, his eyes half-lidded.
"What's the matter? Feeling sick?" He asks as he kneels down to the middle Warner's level and places the back of his hand on his forehead.
"'M tired. 'M hungry, and I feel lightheaded," he places his hand on the side of his head, feeling another dizzy spell coming along.
Yakko is now left with a dilemma. They've been working all morning and now all afternoon on this episode, and are not able to take a lunch break until the director is satisfied with this scene. For all he knows, that could be another two hours or more.
Filming is never an easy job, and it sure isn't a quick one either.
But Wakko is getting hungry, and when Wakko gets hungry, that's usually a red flag that lets him know he needs to eat.
Looking at his younger brother right now, Yakko can obviously see he's not in a very good condition. His back is slightly hunched over, he's struggling to keep himself standing, and he looks like he could pass out at any time. Much different than his usual, energetic, bouncy self. Much less aware of his surroundings, much weaker.
He can't wait any longer. He needs something to eat, and he needs it now.
If it wasn't for the snacks being revoked,- for whatever financial reason the higher ups can come up with- it would've been a lot more convenient to simply grab a few little things and feed them to his brother. Not only would he have something in him, he'd have more energy to do his job, and he'd do it more efficiently.
Unfortunately, everyone is left to their own devices, and not everyone is so lucky to easily provide food for themselves. They never have much to eat at the water tower because most of the time they're out and about. Even if they did have a lot of food, it never lasted long, due to Wakko's insane appetite.
It's not like he can refuse to let him eat, no matter how much he eats. He knows food is a necessity for Wakko, much more so than himself and Dot. The two don't eat nearly as much as their brother, but they still keep something in their systems, whether they need it or not.
Besides, what kind of brother would he be to refuse food for the Warner that needs it most?
His thoughts were interrupted by the director's sudden call, "Alright everyone! Get into positions! We're filming in 30 seconds!"
He looks up and sees everyone around them getting ready to resume their jobs. 'Maybe,' Yakko thought, 'they can make some exceptions.' Surely, they wouldn't let an actor, a child at that, go hungry while filming for their own company. Surely, they care enough about their own reputation to not let a child starve. On their lot. Surely, they must have some other kind of food they can give out, even if it's from a vending machine.
With that thought in mind, he places both firm hands on the middle Warner's shoulders, and suggests, "Why don't you go back and sit at the table? I'll see what I can do. Try not to fall asleep, huh?"
All he got was a tired "Okay" as a response before seeing him slowly walk back to the table.
With that determination in mind, the eldest Warner stands up and heads over to the director, forgetting about the script that he initially wanted to speak to them about.
Their back is turned towards him, seemingly as if they're in deep thought upon reading a small packet. What it's about, Yakko has no idea, nor does he care.
He taps their shoulder, thankful that despite being shorter than everyone in the studio set (minus his two younger siblings), he was able to stretch his arm high enough to reach where he needs to, thanks to being a toon.
"Hey, uuuhhhh, buddy? Is there any way we can wrap this up for five minutes? I think we can use a little break here."
If there's anything Yakko knows about this director, it's that they're not easy to get along with. Everything has to be done their way and in their time, no exceptions. They also have a hard time showing any compassion for those working for them, believing that being uptight, strict, and demanding would gain any of the actors' respect.
Obviously, they haven't gained an ounce of any of the Warners' respect.
Despite their nasty attitude, he was hoping for at least a little sympathy from this person. Anything to let him know that they care enough about Wakko's well being to grant his wish. He was starting to feel a little tired himself, but was more worried about the already exhausted and starving middle Warner.
The director turned to look down at him with an arched brow, their sunglasses perched on top of their head and wearing it like some sort of head band. They started with complete apathy, "You've had a long enough break," before glancing back at the packet for a brief moment. "You should've done everything while it lasted, now get into your position!" They demand as they point ahead to show they mean business.
Should've known better.
Yakko slowly pushed the finger away to give himself some space. "Listen, buddy-"
"Don't call me "buddy." I have a name, and you will refer to me as such."
"Yeah, whatever buddy. That's not important right now." He continued, ignoring what the director just said. "What is important is that I have a hungry brother sitting at the table over there," he pointed behind him to where the middle Warner is. "And he needs something to eat. It can't wait any longer."
"That's not the least bit surprising. The kid is always hungry. He can wait another hour or two." They waved off dismissively. "Now I'm not gonna say this again, get into your position! We've got ten seconds!"
"Or," Yakko started as he crossed his arms, giving the director a small glare. "We can stop long enough to at least have lunch. You want everyone to do their very best and, well... No one can function on an empty stomach, can they?" The eldest Warner holds a hand up before adding, "Just five minutes is all I'm asking."
"You heard what I said, end of discussion," the director sternly replied, being persistent about the decision they made. They were looking over the script for the episode they're currently working on, clearly not showing much interest in the eldest Warner's problem.
'Well that didn't work,' he thought to himself. Even though he was expecting this answer, he was still disappointed regardless.
Knowing now that arguing with the director furthermore would get him nowhere, and possibly fired, Yakko reluctantly complied, making a small incoherent grumble noise before heading back to where Wakko was sitting. The middle Warner was looking a bit worse than last time he saw him as his head was down and he was hugging himself again.
He's really hoping this scene wasn't gonna last more than five minutes, despite the director's implications.
The eldest Warner places a hand on his shoulder, getting his attention. "Hey, Wakko. You think you can handle it a little longer? I promise once we're done here, we'll get you something to eat, okay?" A small, weak nod was all he received. It was the best he could do for now under the circumstances.
He stayed still where he stands as he looks at the middle Warner in worry, feeling his heart break after basically denying him food.
He hates doing this. He hates to tell him this very much, and it makes him sick to his stomach to even say it to him. Having to tell his own sibling to remain hungry a little longer, a little longer, just to finish a scene that is nowhere near as important, hurt him inside. He can't stand not being able to provide anything for any of his siblings himself, and to think no one else around the lot would even take the time from their busy day to help them out with something so essential, like getting them some food. Just like how the director showed based on their attitude alone.
It infuriated the eldest Warner to even think about it, and it made him sick, but dwelling on it isn't gonna solve Wakko's hunger. That he knows for sure.
Yakko knows if there was more he could do, for Wakko or Dot, he would do it in a heartbeat, and he's positive they'd do the same for him.
At least he really hopes so.
The director counts down, letting everyone know they're about to film, starting from "5!... 4!... 3!... 2!..." and gave the camera crew the signal to start.
The Warners start the scene like how they always do, Wakko lagging a little bit from fatigue. However, despite that, he put on his best face and put on a show, no matter how much his body tries to drag him down, no matter how bad he wanted to just lay down and go to sleep. He moved accordingly and said his lines from the script with the right tone, and the right pitch.
Or at least he thought so, and was then abruptly stopped when the director suddenly shouted, "Cut!"
The middle Warner turned to face the director, who he noticed was looking directly at him.
"Wakko, you need to put a little more enthusiasm in your voice. You don't sound too convincing. You gotta work on that."
"Yes, Director Person," he responded, feeling exhausted from just saying those three words.
Hearing that tiredness in his voice made Yakko worry even more than he already is (and even more aggravated at the director's lack of sympathy) as he looks over in his direction. He wasn't sure how much longer he could take, either Wakko from either fighting his hunger or trying to ignore it altogether, or himself for just simply watching this play out, watching his own sibling starve himself for the benefit of someone so undeserving of it and putting his life at risk.
How he so very wishes there was more he could do, but rebelling from any director, or any symbol of authority at that, could risk him, or all three of them, the punishment that they cannot endure again, especially Yakko himself. He can't sit there and watch his siblings feel miserable for just being themselves. He can't sit in the dark and cry himself to sleep every night after his baby siblings succumb to slumber. Not again. It was bad enough to suffer through it once, and he was not going to let it happen again.
It was the last thing they needed, especially now with a starving child in desperate need of food.
It made Yakko mad, and it made him frustrated, but what can he do?! Risk facing that punishment again even if it was justified? Just stand there and do nothing as his baby brother gets weaker and weaker from malnourishment?
He's really in a tight spot, a dilemma that he sure can't win in. It would only take a miracle to find a way he could ease his way into some kind of solution that could work so well, that Wakko would have something in his system, and that they'd be spared from facing that dreaded punishment again.
"Hey, Yakko! The CEO wants to see you!"
Speaking of miracles…
xxx***xxx
Yakko walks into the CEO's office, curious as to why he was called on in the first place, but thankful that his opportunity for a favor rose when it did. He stops at the desk, noticing the look of indifference on the CEO's face, their hands clasped together, and how they're slightly leaning forward, almost as if they were anticipating something.
The awkward silence lingers around the room, which the eldest Warner found very unsettling, and he was beginning to feel uncomfortable the longer the silence went on. He clears his throat to kill the mood before asking, "Is there a reason you wanted to see me?"
"Yes. This shouldn't be long, but you can still have a seat if you'd like. Or don't. I don't care." They said before proceeding to neatly fix a pile of papers on their desk and lay them down in front of them. Their eyes traced back to Yakko again as they decidedly collect their thoughts. "Due to the damage you and your siblings have caused last week, I'm gonna have to cut all of your pays until everything is fixed."
"Hey, it's not our fault that guy snatched Wakko's hot dog," Yakko defended. "He should've known better than to take something that wasn't his to begin with. Otherwise, that wouldn't have happened. If you asked me, he had it coming." He quipped and crossed his arms.
The CEO proceeds to write something down on a small piece of paper. "And you guys will be paying any or all of his medical bills," They then tore the small paper out of its pad and handed it to the eldest Warner.
"Yeah, we're gonna have to pass on that," he laid a hand out in attempts to give back the paper. "That guy came to us first. He's the one that provoked us first, and you want us to help him out of his own mess? I don't think so."
"The mess that you guys have gotten him into, yes."
"The mess that wouldn't have happened if he left us alone and mind his own business," Yakko retorted, his eyes narrowing as his patience was slowly starting to die off.
In their defense, they had no intentions on making a special friend that day, but had a change of plans once his baby brother's hot dog was unexpectedly snatched out of his hands. They were only returning the favor.
"Well, who provoked who doesn't matter. You guys are still paying his medical bills," the CEO then forcefully shoved the small paper into Yakko's hands, "and that's final."
The eldest Warner sighed in defeat. "Fine." He didn't wanna argue any further, as that's not his main concern at this time. However, he did ask for a small change considering this subject. "But can you just cut my pay instead? And leave theirs as is?"
"Alright. But if we're just taking your money, then we'll be tripling the cost. You sure you wanna proceed with that?" They then wrote another note to tear out and give to Yakko.
"Positive," he answered. He didn't care about how much money he had. As long as his sibs' checks were untouched, he wasn't all too worried.
As he was putting the small paper in his pocket, Yakko thinks of how to bring up the subject. The subject that he's been wanting to bring up since he stepped foot into this office.
It didn't take much time at all to formulate the words in his head as he begins with an opening. "Uuuhhh, ya know what would help with my dilemma, since were talking about problems and such? How's about we bring snack privileges back? Ya know, for those who really need it?"
"No," they simply said as they started writing down some more notes for an unrelated thing, not even looking up as they were doing so.
"Talk about blunt," Yakko mumbled. He then clasped his hands together, getting ready to find another way to solve his issue.
Perhaps a little sweet talk will change his mind. "My favorite CEO of our favorite company. You're a nice person. Surely you can understand the importance of food, and how vital it is to have it in our systems," he takes the initiative to sit on top of the CEO's desk as he spoke. "Well, your system, not mine, 'cause unlike you, I don't really need to eat. But let's not forget about the toons out there who actually need the energy boosters like you humans do. Those toons who depend on food to live just as much as a human. Speaking of which-"
"The answer is no and that's final. Yakko Warner, do you have any idea why we got rid of snack privileges? Can you take a guess?" A noticeable glare was shown as he finally looked up at the eldest Warner.
"Does it have anything to do with putting us on a healthy diet?" He guessed, and judging by their facial expression going from annoyed to downright angry, he was dead wrong.
"No, Warner. It has nothing to do with putting anyone on a diet-"
"You sure about that? Looks like you could use some veggies yourself," he quipped, showing a smirk while jabbing the CEO's noticeable belly with his finger.
"Stop that!" They shouted, giving Yakko a slap on the hand as a counterattack, and then pushing him off the desk, "And get off there. It's not a chair," They then give themselves a brief moment to readjust in the desk chair. "No, no one's going on a diet! There's no snack privileges anymore because there was a unanimous vote to cut out snacks altogether! This company is losing money, and we can't keep wasting it where it's not needed!"
"You're saying nobody needs to eat because we're losing money?"
"I'm saying the reason snack privileges are gone is because of that vacuum cleaner out there you call your brother. Eating up everything there is, and not leaving any for everyone else. How fair does that sound to you?"
"It sounds to me like he's just trying to eat his fill. He gets hungry, like everyone else, and he needs to eat, like everyone else. Are you saying in other words, you got rid of the snacks because of a minor inconvenience?" He questioned with a raised brow, having his hands placed on his hips.
That certainly pressed a nerve in the CEO. They stood up as they spoke, appalled, enraged, about the eldest Warner's claim. "You think one person-... one toon, a child at that, eating a whole snack table, including the table, is a minor inconvenience?! There was more than one complaint about this, at least once or twice a day, and you're just standing there calling it a "minor inconvenience?!" Do you have any idea how much money this company had to spend, replacing tables and buying more food because of that bottomless pit of a brother of yours?!"
Taking a step back and getting rather uncomfortable about the sudden hostility, Yakko puts his hands out in attempts to calm them down. "Hey, it wasn't much of a problem before, so why bring it up now? Besides, Wakko doesn't know any better. If they asked nicely, he could've shared some with them. He wouldn't mind."
It was obvious the CEO was beyond infuriated, the redness in their face only intensified the more they tried to argue with the wisecrack Warner. The more they argued, the angrier they got, and the less they're able to think straight.
They release a sigh, stopping themselves before they could go any further and risk what sanity they have left, as they sit back down and give Yakko one of the deadliest glares the eldest Warner has ever seen coming from them. Just looking into their merciless eyes sent chills up his spine. "Get out of my office, Warner. Or you're gonna have severe consequences. You and your siblings." Their voice was so low and so calm, it was actually starting to intimidate the eldest Warner.
Yakko's eyes widened in horror at the mention of severe consequences. He knew all too well what they meant by that, which made the fear come in full force in such a short span of time. His heartbeat began to rise, and his breath was becoming shallow, and he couldn't move. He was frozen in one spot as his mind was dragged back to the horrid days of when those severe consequences were brought upon the three Warners.
Those severe consequences. No spark of light of any kind, whether it was literal or metaphorical. The many dark and almost sleepless nights as they all cried themselves to sleep wondering why them, and what they had done to deserve such a punishment so cruel and unjust.
Those severe consequences. Nobody to talk to, or play with, or make lighthearted jokes with, except for each other. Having to distract themselves from the situation they were in and the outside world that was beyond their reach. So close, and yet so far. Just outside the door. The door that unfortunately is only locked on the outside, giving them no way of escape, no way of freedom, no way to see the light of day.
Those severe consequences. The many days and nights (which they weren't even able to differentiate, considering there was no window to look out of) where they lay on the cold, hard, metallic floor, and have even gotten sick from in the winter. Freezing themselves nearly to death from below freezing temperatures, with stuffy noses, headaches, chills, and fevers, and anything in between. They had no medicine to help themselves get well, so they had to just wait it out, and prolong their sicknesses.
Those severe consequences. Nothing to give their taste buds a little variety other than the air they breathe. They weren't able to savor any taste because no food was available while being imprisoned. They weren't able to eat anything juicy, or sweet, or crunchy, soft, tender, or even creamy. Even though they didn't need to eat, they still got hungry when thinking about it too much, and that hunger pained them all to endure, especially Wakko.
Which was why Yakko needed something for him now. Before history repeats itself.
The eldest Warner blinked to find himself still standing in front of the CEO's desk, said CEO still giving him the harsh, merciless glare. He swallowed the lump in his throat and gathered the courage to ask one more time before taking his leave. "Can you at least help me get Wakko something to eat before I go?"
"No!"
With nothing else to say, knowing full well now how much the CEO cares about his brother's wellbeing, or any of their wellbeings, Yakko turns around and heads for the door
In hindsight, he should've expected this. He should've known by now how willing they are to help the Warners out by any means, but for some reason, he still held on to the hope that they would at least care enough to help those that are actually working for them, helping them make money.
He mentally facepalmed at his own false hopes, telling himself he should've known better.
He's now back to square one, and he doesn't know what to do anymore. Wakko is out there, tired, hungry, and weak, and Yakko can't even do anything to help him.
Feeling defeated and helpless after everything he's done, he finally steps out of the office, and closes the door behind him.
xxx***xxx
The eldest Warner returns to the set, seeing everyone rehearsing their lines and such, and just simply minding their own business. He tries to push away the gnawing guilt eating him up inside as he reaches in his hammerspace for his script, but stops midway when he hears the terrified scream coming from his sister.
"Yakko!" She calls as she runs to him, looking terrified. For what reason, Yakko has no idea, until she says these four words that immediately makes his heart beat ten times faster, "Something's wrong with Wakko!"
And there it was. The very thing that Yakko has been trying so, so hard to avoid. He knew exactly what was wrong with Wakko, and was so desperate to solve said problem. He would've already done so had people have actually met him half way, and had been willing to help out.
However, that wasn't on his mind at the moment. The one and only thing on his mind was finding Wakko, and helping him out himself. He kept that thought in his head as he ran in the direction Dot came from to find his brother laying on the floor.
In the middle of the set, Wakko's small figure lays on the floor, unmoving, being completely ignored by the many cast and crew members. It looks as though he collapsed mid-walk, if him laying face down was any indication. Not to mention his hat was laying a few feet in front of him.
The eldest Warner immediately runs over to his side and gently turns him around so he's facing upwards. His fur is disheveled, mouth agape, ears are drooping, tired eyes closed and have small rings around them that are noticeable enough to see he doesn't look so good.
If Yakko were to guess what he was doing before falling face flat on the floor, he would've assumed Wakko was either looking for him again to tell him he was really hungry (as if he didn't already know), or that he was trying to distract himself from the hunger pain by walking around the set, which, if that were the case, would've been the worst thing to do for someone with his condition.
Yakko knows that walking around in general can be tiring for some, even though he hardly feels that way himself. He knows how tired people get when they have empty stomachs. They're not able to function properly because they lack the nutrients needed to give them the energy boost. And for people like Wakko, who need to eat more often than most people, their energy levels drain faster than normal. Not drastically fast, but faster than any of their liking.
And considering Wakko hasn't had anything to eat since breakfast, why he thought walking around the set on an empty stomach would help him in any way was beyond Yakko.
Hoping he's not too late, and that he's not too deep asleep, Yakko shakes his small form, begging, pleading for some kind of response. Anything to let him know he's still there.
All he got instead was a head lolled to the side. "Wakko? Wakko! Come on, buddy, wake up! It's not time for bed yet."
Still no movement.
"Somebody help us!"
The eldest Warner looks up to where the source of the shout was, and sees his sister sitting on her knees on Wakko's other side. Her hands were laid upon his arm, and she looks as though she's nearing tears seeing one of her older brothers laying unconscious.
It was as if it was happening again. In the dark, cold empty tower. With no way out, and no way to bring Wakko back by any means. The thoughts and feelings from what happened the first time began to return at full force to the youngest Warner. Scared and confused, terrified for what's gonna happen to the middle Warner. Why was he acting like this? Why was he tired? How do they wake him up? What do they need to wake him up and bring him back to being himself? How often was this gonna happen? What happens if he doesn't wake up?
So many questions were forming in her head, but no answers came with them. She thought she would've known what to do by now. This has happened before. Instead, she's at a loss.
All that she can think of is that Wakko is too deep asleep, unable to wake up if he tried, and that this was all too soon to repeat a second time.
Yakko then takes the initiative to repeat Dot's action, hoping against hope that unlike the CEO, and unlike the director, there's someone on this lot merciful enough to at least help them out. Someone who wouldn't hesitate to provide any kind of help to the Warner siblings, who are in dire need of it right now. "Please, somebody, give us some food! He's starving!" He cried as he picked his limp brother up and held him in his arms.
Unfortunately, the people around them are still going on with their businesses, still not paying them any mind, leaving Yakko and Dot to solve this on their own yet again.
The eldest Warner couldn't help but regret his recent decisions. Instead of asking someone to help him out, or even try to persuade them to help him with what he needed, he should've taken action himself. He should've been the one to give the middle Warner what he needs. He always has been. Nobody else would do it willingly, so why on earth was he expecting anything different this time around?
He cursed himself for the millionth time in the past few minutes.
However, going back to the situation at hand, he knows exactly what to do. With a determined plan in mind, Yakko stood up, holding Wakko in one arm, and using his other hand to grab hold of his sister's (who grabbed the middle Warner's hat before he did so), and did the one thing he should've done since the moment he saw the state Wakko was in. He ran out of the studio set, forgetting about the episode they're filming altogether.
"Hey! Get back here! We still got an episode to finish!" The director called out, but was all fallen on deaf ears as the small toon children were all but gone.
Whatever they have to say can wait. Wakko had to wait for a long time at the cost of his health, so it's the least they can do for the troubles.
xxx***xxx
Yakko and Dot have been running for quite a while, driving themselves to near exhaustion, but have finally stopped once they found the nearest gas station.
The eldest Warner, still holding his brother, drops to his knees by the double doors while catching his breath. Even though toon speed was mighty helpful in this situation, he was still worn out from the extra weight added from holding Wakko.
He then reaches into his pocket, and pulls out a twenty dollar bill and hands it to the youngest Warner. "Here, sis. Get as much food as you can with this. Any kind is fine," he tells her in between breaths.
She nods in understanding, and without hesitation, runs into the gas station, and does as she was instructed.
As soon as she steps foot into the small store, she grabs the first few things she sees, and runs to the checkout stand. Said few items are a muffin, two bags of chips, a bottle of soda, and a small bag of cookies. All of those items, to her luck, was just under $20, including taxes. There wasn't enough time for the cashier to slowly count out the change, so she tells them to keep it before running back outside where her brothers are. The small amount of lost change was the last thing on her mind at this moment.
Dot gets on her knees and offers Yakko the first thing she hands out, which was the muffin, but not before taking it out of its wrapper.
The eldest Warner takes the sweet pastry with appreciation. "Thanks, Dot." He then holds Wakko's head up so he doesn't choke on the food going into his system. He starts off by tearing a small piece off of the top and gently laying it in his younger brother's mouth, helping him chew up the food by holding on to his bottom jaw, and simply moving it up and down to break down the food contents before he swallows it.
"Come on buddy," Yakko murmurs, his voice almost a whisper, as he tears off another small piece and repeats the process.
He couldn't help but feel the weight of guilt falling on his shoulders yet again. He knows he should've done so much more to avert this crisis. There were so many opportunities for him to just tend to his brother's needs himself. Without anyone's approval. But he didn't.
Instead, he tried to convince that asshole of a director to allow them the minimum of five minutes to do what he had to do. Five measly minutes of their time was obviously too much to ask for from the "director person"- as what he heard Wakko call them earlier. Instead, he tried to persuade and persuade, which was only getting him nowhere.
All talk, no action... or yakking in this case. He wasn't too sure.
What Yakko was sure of though was that they didn't care about any of them, let alone their well being. Why he thought this time would be different he couldn't comprehend.
It wasn't just the director though. It was the CEO as well. Hell, no one on the lot cares about the Warners and their well-being. "They're just too Zany," what someone has said before. "Zany, out of control, chaotic."
That's how it is for almost every toon, unfortunately. Not just the Warners. They just so happen to have the shortest end of the stick and therefore receive some of the worst treatment just because of their reputation.
And thinking about that now just makes the eldest Warner feel even more like an idiot. An idiotic fool.
An idiotic fool who just let his brother go hungry because he was too scared to break the rules. Because he was too scared to experience the consequences of rebelling against authority a second time. Because he didn't want to re-experience those dark and miserable days all over again. Because he couldn't handle it.
An idiotic fool who knew this would happen if it wasn't taken care of immediately. He knew everything about Wakko's condition, but instead of being the responsible older brother that he is (or that he's supposed to be) and figure out what to do, and how to get the things he needed, he went to a couple of higher ups and asked for permission, like a child asking their parents for permission to play a video game after dinner.
He could've done so much more for his baby brother. Instead, he neglected his needs and added more trouble for himself than necessary.
And thinking about it now has only made the guilt ten times worse.
He brought himself back to reality once he saw the middle Warner's mouth begin to move slowly, finally starting to chew the food up himself as he was being fed.
The food is working, much to Yakko's relief. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding as he fed Wakko the last piece of muffin.
The middle Warner finally begins to stir, his eyes scrunching for a very brief moment before finally opening them half way. The first thing he sees is a blur of two figures who he knows are his siblings, which is always a welcoming sight to see. And then behind them, he notices, are buildings across the street. Buildings that look nothing like the movie lot. Despite those buildings being huge, blurry spots, he can tell they're no longer at the movie lot.
And that brings up the question of how he got here while he was asleep. "Yakko? ... Dot? What happened?" He asks, putting little to no effort in raising his voice the slightest. It was too much work to even speak, let alone raise his voice a few octaves.
"Wakko!"
Next thing he knew, Wakko was enveloped in a big hug, being sandwiched between his siblings, both of whom were unusually ecstatic to see him wake up from a nap. And that alone made him even more confused. "Guys? What happened?" He repeated.
Dot was the first to respond. "While Yakko was gone, I was going through my lines and saw you passed out on the floor. I didn't know what happened, Wakko. I tried to wake you up, but I couldn't get you to answer." She then pulls his hat out of her hammerspace, and slaps him with it before giving it back to him. "Don't ever scare me like that again, you hear?" Her voice slightly cracked as she spoke, and her eyes were feeling wet and her vision was blurry.
A quick nod was the answer she got. She wiped away her tears as her frown softened a little upon seeing the state he's in. "Are you feeling any better?"
"A little," the middle Warner says. He put his hat back on the way he usually wears it, then looks up at his older brother, who's been unusually silent for a while. "Yakko?"
Yakko looks down at the one who called on him, and sees the concerned look on the middle Warner's face. Even though he's the one that just passed out, he's still worried about his older brother, which Yakko couldn't understand why. He's not the one who should be worried. It should be the other way around. He's the oldest after all, not Wakko. Wakko was the one who passed out from low blood sugar, not him. Wakko was the one who needed medical attention, not him.
"Wakko, I..." He clears his throat before starting again. "I'm sorry, Wakko. I would've gotten you something sooner, but..." For having a reputation of yakking, he's got his tongue tied. The words are scrambled around in his brain, and he couldn't think of what to say.
Luckily, the youngest Warner knew exactly what he has on his mind. She knew what was holding him back from finding food for their brother, and she wasn't surprised at the very least. "Nobody would let you leave the lot, huh."
A solemn nod was all the answer she needed. She wasn't left in the dark about the knowledge of discrimination against toons. She's known about it for a long time.
"I should've just left anyways," Yakko mumbles, mentally beating himself up over and over again. "Maybe then I would've had more time to do something about Wakko's condition before it got worse."
The middle Warner was confused at first about what they meant. But remembering how Dot said "nobody would let you leave the lot," the more he repeated that sentence, the clearer it became.
Yakko was blaming himself for something he couldn't control. He was being held back from doing what he had to do, and something bad would happen if he broke the rules.
He leaned further against his older brother's chest as a form of comfort. As a way to let him know he's already forgiven. "It's okay, Yakko. I know you were-"
"No, Wakko. It's not okay," he interjected. "I should've known better. I dunno why I thought they would change when I asked them for a break. If they didn't allow us our requested breaks any other time, they're not gonna start now."
"But Yakko, they threatened to punish us if you left without permission. You didn't have much of a choice." The youngest Warner reminded him.
Yakko looks at his sister in stunned silence. It was something he didn't even think about when all of this happened with the middle Warner, and now that she brought it to light, he couldn't help but agree with her, because she was right. He wasn't given much of a choice in the situation. Either way, he was bound to lose something. There was no way out of it. It was either abide by the rules, no matter what, even if it meant starving your younger sibling and not being able to snatch some snacks for the sake of their health, or break the rules and go through the same punishment you've suffered through for so long, and spend the many, many years living in the dark. Literally.
At least when they were in the dark, they all had each other. Together, alive, and well.
Well... together and alive would be the better term.
Nothing else was said after that. Silence is what lingered around the Warners. The only noise that can be heard were the people entering and leaving the gas station, who were also paying no mind to the three puppy children sitting beside the doorway.
The eldest Warner then pulls his baby brother into a warm and tight embrace, thanking whatever higher entity that exists up there that Wakko is still alive and still with them now. "But I'm glad you're okay now."
"Me too," Dot added as she joined in on the hug, sandwiching the middle Warner between themselves yet again.
Wakko couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for putting his older brother in that tight situation. Even though he was the Warner that needed medical attention, he still feels bad about Yakko having to go through everything, with the CEO and the higher ups. They were nothing but stubborn pains in the neck, and wouldn't give him the leeway, no matter how much he begged.
And he only followed their rules because he knew what would happen if he didn't. He knew what would happen if he went out of line. And because he didn't wanna go through all that again, he bit his tongue, and did what they all said, like a behaved child, no matter how much he hated it.
However, there was a line that had to be crossed. He wasn't willing to lose one of his siblings for their satisfaction. He can go through so much hell and still fight through it because he knows both of his younger siblings are here with him. As long as Wakko and Dot are okay, Yakko was okay.
And because of that, he gave the higher ups the middle finger and did what he had to do.
And Yakko did it all for him.
He looks up at the eldest Warner, feeling a small sense of guilt himself.
Because Yakko broke the rules for his sake, they're all gonna suffer the consequences.
As they all stood up, Wakko feeling a little lightheaded from the sudden action, and started making their way back to the movie lot, the middle Warner couldn't help but ask, "What are we gonna tell the CEO?"
"Don't worry about it, baby bro. I'll think of something," Yakko assures, ruffling his younger brother's hatted head as he put on the best smile he could summon, even if it was a small one. As a way to let him know that everything will be okay. To let both him and Dot know that everything is gonna be alright.
At least he hopes so.
As they kept walking, Yakko notices his younger brother slowing down a little. He must still be a little tired from earlier, he assumes. He and Dot both stop long enough for the eldest Warner to offer Wakko a lift, which the latter gratefully accepts, and continue their tread back to the lot.
They all know what's to come once they return. They know what they'll have to endure once they face the CEO after their sudden, much needed, break. Thinking about it left a shadow of dread above their heads, constantly watching their every move, and listening to their every thought.
However, they try to brush it off the best they can. No sense in living in dread and fear for what's to come in the very near future. Right now is the time to focus on the good things they have, and that alone.
Their close sibling relationship. The relationship they've had for so long, like no other. They haven't been anywhere near as close to anyone else as they have been to each other. Most of the time, it's because nobody ever cared enough to try to befriend any of them. They didn't care though, because nobody else was there through all the times they were locked in the water tower. All they had was each other, and to them, that was enough.
They're all alive and okay. Wakko may still be a little weak, but in time, he'll get better and still have that energy he's always had.
And whatever happens, they all know they'll always have each other through thick and thin. The good times and the bad. Whether one, two, or even all of them get sick, they know they'll get through it, like any other time. They're the Warner siblings, and nothing is going to keep them down.
And they'll let anyone who tries to test them know that.
*The End*