Special Friend
A/N: It's been a while I know. There has been a lot going on and I don't have a lot of time to dedicate towards this project as well as a few others. Anyways same rules as usual. I own only my OC. Everyone else belongs to Warner Brothers and their respective owners and holders.
It was a quiet evening in the Toons United Toonitis ward. Everyone had turned in for the night, patients resting peacefully in their rooms. Doctors and nurses still caring for their charges, despite how the odds seemed to be stacked against their patients. Yet, some of the patients remained in relatively high spirts.
Claire flipped through another TV channel annoyed that she couldn't find any news covering the Warner's trial. Yet there was more than enough coverage on some other celebrity drama. With a halfhearted sigh, she turned off the TV and let the remote drop to her side, "There really isn't anything good on at all. You'd think they would at least cover some of the trial…"
"One would think yes" a voice spoke from the doorway, "But sadly not the case right now. Even the media doesn't know what to make of it."
Claire looked at the helmeted entity standing in her doorway, "Your helmet really doesn't hide your identity from me you know."
"Ahhh was worth a shot" Yakko mused and took his helmet off, "Man you look like you've had a rough day."
"This place can do that to you" Claire shrugged, "I assume you've been watching over them?"
Yakko nodded and sat on the edge of the bed, "Naturally. Yet, they can't even know it's me. Not yet at least. I can tell you though the trial has been insane. Memlo completely snapped!"
Claire blinked, "But isn't he the one who commissioned your very existence?"
"Uh huh" Yakko sighed, "He led to our creation, our birth…but in a way I feel like Frankenstein's monster."
Claire blinked, "Sorely misunderstood and wanting to be accepted in life?"
"Shouldn't even…. well hey that's an even better point" Yakko mused and sighed, "Will have to say it's weird being not quite alive, but not quite dead."
"You got your certificate, you're officially alive" Claire pointed out.
Yakko sighed, "Doesn't quite feel that way though. I can't even let my siblings know I'm alive yet! All I can do is watch from the sidelines unable to do anything. Even stranger Death was hanging around them too!"
"Oh yeah I asked him to do that" Claire deadpanned, "Since you couldn't be there, I asked him to stand in since let's face it, who would want to screw with Death."
Yakko chuckled slightly, "I suppose there is some merit to your usual madness. Where did you learn to come up with such devious plans I wonder?"
Claire chuckled before she started to cough, "Oh you know, learned it from my special friend. Gotta plan for anything and everything."
"And this whole time I thought you didn't pay attention" Yakko teased.
Claire shook her head wiping some blood away, "More than you realize. Like how I had noticed something you had tried to keep from me."
Yakko nearly jolted, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm a toon who chases after all the pretty girls! You watched the show, Hello Nurse, Hello Space Nurse, those random ladies from the conga line."
"Always chasing after the pretty ones" Claire teased and crossed her arms, "but, it seems like there's something you're not telling me. Your best friend and I don't approve of it."
Yakko chuckled slightly, "Okay I suppose there is one pretty girl I haven't been able to chase. Mostly because well stuck in the whole limbo thing between life and death. Hey speaking of Limbo are those two toons who could split themselves in half still around? They were fun to play with."
"Sadly not" Claire sighed, "Their treatment was successful and they're out doing regular shows in Vegas."
"Good for them" Yakko mused, "I'd kill for us to get our show back, or even a reboot!"
Claire chuckled, "Who knows, maybe someday a company will take interest in bringing back the rampaging feeling of nostalgia. Heck, think about all the new material you would have!"
Yakko nodded, "I suppose one could hope for that. But with all the reboots, not sure if that's something I would want to get involved with. I mean they seem like soulless rehashes of old material. Just trying to capture a newer audience or entrap the same old one."
"So what you don't think an Animaniacs reboot would be a good idea?" Claire asked.
Yakko chuckled a little, "Weeeellll….I suppose it would give us our careers back. Get that exposure we haven't had since the 90s! Though I suppose there could be some issues today."
"Like what?" Claire asked.
Yakko looked at her, "Like Wakko's lack of pants. I don't think that's the kind of exposure people are looking for."
"Oh…that kind of…. goodnight, everybody" Claire laughed.
Yakko found himself laughing along with her, "I just can't help but think that would be one of the biggest issues."
Claire nodded, "I suppose I can see that being the case. I mean what would they do with a lot of the cast…everyone has been out of work for long."
Yakko hadn't taken that into consideration. None of them had a paycheck in ages. He couldn't even keep track of who was around anymore, and who faded into obscurity. Yet, those thoughts had to get pushed to the back of his mind for the time being. Instead, he wanted to just spend some time with his friend, the one person he had chased, but could never catch.
"So who is this pretty girl you can't catch?" Claire finally asked trying to change the subject.
Yakko nearly jolted and rubbed the back of his head, "Well, how to explain this one…. I've known her for quite a while. We spent a lot of time together in this very place….'
"I see" Claire was piecing things together, "Can I be honest too, Yakko?"
Yakko nodded, "I would hope you can be honest with me."
Claire nodded, "You see there's this guy I kinda have a crush on. I guess it's complicated because I'm only partially a toon. He's a full toon though, and very dedicated to his family. So much so he gave up his own life; so that his siblings could live."
Yakko blinked for a moment, "Claire….?"
"Do I have to spell it out Mr. Nations of the world?" Claire teased poking his nose.
Yakko took a few minutes to try and process what was being said, "It sounds like you're describing-"
Before Yakko could finish his sentence Claire pulled him into a hug and barely spoke over a whisper, "You. You silly Warner."
"Uhhhh" Yakko had found himself at a loss for words.
Claire pulled away and shook her head, "But if you don't feel that way I understand. I mean you still have all those pretty girls to chase after all."
"Whoa now hold the phone!" Yakko pulled himself together, "What if I told you that you were the impossible girl I was chasing? I mean sure the others were nice, but ahhh probably outside my age range. I am a boy at heart after all."
Claire raised an eyebrow, "Trying to play innocent now, are you?"
"Guilty as charged!" Yakko draped an arm over his eyes, "Take me away officer!"
"Hahaha!" Claire burst out laughing and held her sides, "You are such a drama king!"
Yakko raised an eyebrow, "Hey now I am the King of Avilania mind you!"
"And just where is that?" Claire teased.
Yakko shrugged, "I dunno, I mean last I knew it fell due to an anvil related incident. Though you know the country is looking for a queen."
"Uh huh not so fast buddy" Claire mused, "This queen position, I don't need to wear polka dots do I?"
Yakko thought for a moment, "Nah, I think those are a little outdated anyways. No, the country of Anvilania should be brought to the modern age! If it's still even around I don't even know."
"Some king you are" Claire stuck her tongue out at him.
Yakko shrugged and laid back on Claire's bed next to her, "You'd think being a king you'd get whatever you want. I had the greatest anvils in the world! Alas, the king of Anvilania was lonely and sad. For not even the great anvil rings could bring joy to his heart! No not until he came back to smog filled Burbank California and met his partner in crime in a Toonitis ward!"
Claire shook her head, "You're laying it on there a little thick there buddy."
"It's all part of my charm" Yakko countered.
Claire sighed, "I suppose so…. but I doubt you came all this way just to tease me."
"But what if I did?" Yakko asked.
Claire shook her head, "Part of me would want to believe you."
"Then you should" Yakko smiled and pulled Claire into a hug, "When this all blows over, once your treatment is done, let's just run away for a while. You, me and the sibs. We'll go travel around the world, get ideas for a reboot of the series!"
Claire giggled slightly, "Sounds like a date if you ask me."
"Consider it one then" Yakko smiled and rubbed Claire's back, "A special date for a very special friend."
Claire felt herself relax as Yakko rubbed her back, "Is this some really lucid dream?"
"Maybe" Yakko mused, "Or maybe you've finally flown over the coo-coo nest."
Claire shook her head, "I doubt I'm that far gone…Yakko…. thank you for at least paying me a visit."
Yakko nodded, "Sorry it took so long. I finally had a chance to come see you. Hopefully tomorrow the trial will pick back up. As soon as it does, I'll be there to watch over all of them."
Yakko grew concerned as Claire had gone silent. Listening carefully, he could hear her snoring softly. Looking towards the heart monitor he felt a sense of relief seeing that her pulse was stable. With a sad smile he laid her back down on her bed and pulled a blanket over her. He could at least say she looked better then the last time he had saw her. Her features didn't look as tired, and her eyes had a spark of life in them again. After tucking her in he looked around to make sure he wasn't being watched. Without a second thought he gently kissed her forehead and exited the room shutting the light off.
"Good night my special friend, pleasant dreams" Yakko whispered quietly as he left the hospital.
Tomorrow he would continue to watch as the drama unfolded around his "death". He could only hope that a verdict would be reached soon for the sake of his siblings. With a partially lighter heart he started back towards the lit city that shone in the valley below. Hoping to someday walk amongst he light once more and leave the shadows for good.
-End
