The sun was just starting to come up when Darkwing and Donald stepped out onto the roof of Ducklair Tower. The Duckburg on display below them was a very different scene than it had been only a few hours ago. The only people walking around at this hour were early-risers likely on their way to the nearest Starducks. A faint fog draped itself over the ground, and the rising sun painted the gray below with streaks of orange and yellow.
Darkwing settled himself into a chair near the railing, and Donald did the same, pulling up next to his friend. For a few moments, neither duck spoke, both deciding to just enjoy the view.
After some silence, Donald decided to break the ice. "One's special serum did a good job of patching you up."
"Yeah," mumbled Darkwing, stretching his neck. "Still a little sore, but no worse than from an intense workout, I suppose."
Donald was struck by Darkwing's quiet, tired tone, but continued on anyway. "That's good. One's amazing like that."
"You mean when he's not waking the whole tower just because a duck felt restless?"
Donald rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, sorry about that. I promise that doesn't happen all the time."
A mechanical whirring halted their conversation and they saw a platter rising up from the floor. Two fresh mugs of life-giving coffee were atop it, and the two ducks took them gratefully.
Darkwing sipped carefully and embraced the warmth as the coffee settled into his stomach. "Your robot butler brews a good cup, Donny."
"Thanks," said Donald, adding cream to his brew. "Although I think he'd be insulted if you called him a robot butler."
"Really?"
"Yeah. He's so much more. Without One, I don't think we would've gotten off that Astro-Raider."
"Yeah…" Darkwing closed his beak and stared off into the distance. Donald studied him, shifting in his seat at the change in his demeanor.
His eyes were heavy and laced with sadness behind his purple mask. Donald swallowed, guilt poking at his stomach. He had hoped to lighten his friend's spirit with their chat, but the way things were going now, they wouldn't be doing much talking from here on.
Darkwing undid the mask and let it drop to the floor. There was nothing to hide his inner turmoil now, and he sighed a pained sigh.
"You ok, Darkwing?" Donald asked tentatively.
Darkwing responded without looking at Donald. "Don't call me that. No one can call me that now."
Donald was surprised. "Whaddaya mean?"
"You know what I mean. You were the one who had to save me."
"I wanted to save you. You're my friend, and I care about you." Donald put a hand on his shoulder and gave him an encouraging smile.
Darkwing muscled it away and returned his sullen gaze to the sunrise. Donald gulped as he beheld the broken duck next to him. His lower beak trembled and his eyes were glossy. Donald could tell he was trying very hard to keep it together.
After another moment, Darkwing spoke. "Ain't it funny, Donald? All those Single Dad's Club meetings, all the advice you gifted me with when I could barely even cook and clean for myself." He paused again and swallowed a rising lump in his throat. "The one thing I was ever any good at...and you still had to come and bail me out."
Donald struggled to put together the right words for his friend. "Drake…"
Darkwing continued, his voice beginning to tremble. "I let the Evronians walk all over me while Gosalyn stood there watching like a caged rat. And now, who knows what torturous things those wretched wrongdoers have in store?"
Despite his best efforts to remain calm, tears were dripping down his cheeks at this point. His head dropped to rest on his arms, shielding himself from the world. "I'm no hero. I'm no father. Just a worthless pushover freak," he sobbed.
Donald's heart ached at the way Darkwing attacked himself. He never opened himself up like this. He was always the collected one, the level head to tame Donald's fiery temper. But here he was, crying next to Donald against the early morning backdrop.
Donald empathized with his friend. He could envision himself playing out the same scene if Huey, Dewey, or Louie were to be snatched away in a similar manner.
But one fact was clear in Donald's mind above Darkwing's quiet cries: nothing would be accomplished if he were to just sit here and wallow. The sooner Gosalyn was liberated from Evronian hands, the better.
"Darkwing, listen to me," said Donald gently. Darkwing disregarded him, still sobbing into his sleeves. "…Drake."
Darkwing lifted his head up slowly and looked at Donald.
"You are a good father. You've done more for Gosalyn than you realize."
Darkwing sniffed and eyed his friend with disbelief. "Donald...they took her from me and I couldn't save her."
"That doesn't mean you didn't try," Donald rebutted. "I heard what was going on in there."
Donald recalled the flight to the Astro-Raider and his call with Launchpad. In the background, underneath their secretive words, Donald's ears picked up on cries of pain he heard on many an Evronian beatdown. He knew Darkwing was showing the aliens exactly how he felt about Gosalyn's abduction, despite not seeing the fight until it was over.
"Drake, I know you fought your best against the Evronians. You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. But you've gotta remember: the fight's not over just because you lost once. We can still rescue Gosalyn. The Evronians think they've won against you. After all they've put you through, do you want them to be right about that?"
Darkwing's eyes widened and his tears stopped. Donald was right. His efforts high above Earth were not something to frown upon, despite losing Gosalyn. His mind drifted back to his daughter, and the terror on her face as she was whisked away.
He couldn't let it end like this. It wasn't the end. This was only round one.
If Darkwing submitted now, and didn't go back to rescue his daughter, he really couldn't call himself a hero then.
Darkwing's depression drained from his soul slowly, being replaced by a newly-stoked fire for justice.
Donald saw him perk up and smiled. His pep talk had worked.
"You're right, Donald," Darkwing breathed. "This isn't over. There's still a chance I can save Gosalyn."
"Ahem, we can save Gosalyn," Donald cut in. "I'm not letting you do this alone again. I have experience with the Evronians. If we work together, we can trash them and bring Gos and LP home."
Darkwing looked down again for a moment, but even he acknowledged that some help would benefit him this time around.
He nodded his head with understanding, and gratefulness reflected back at Donald as he said, "Alright, Donny."
Darkwing told himself he didn't deserve a friend like Donald, but he was thankful to still have him when anyone else would have left a long time ago.
He sniffed again and said, "Just one thing."
"What is it, Drake?"
"You've been so helpful to me ever since we met. I know you don't have to and I'm grateful you do anyway. But...why? Why help some dunderhead in a silly jacket and mask?"
"I think you said it best," said Donald comfortingly. "Because we're heroes. And it's our duty to protect the ones we care about."
Darkwing remembered the words he spat at Donald earlier, and regret nudged its way into his heart. He was appalled at himself, but the look of forgiveness on Donald's face swept the guilt away.
Donald pulled Darkwing into a hug as the sun shone its yellow glow across the awakening Duckburg skyline.
One looked toward the elevator as the sound of its doors reached his aural receptors. Darkwing and Donald walked out, both ducks wearing smiles across their beaks.
"Had a nice talk, have we?" One inquired.
"Yes, One, we have," said Donald. "And we're gonna save Gosalyn together. Now, how far is it to Venus again?"
"Well, last time we were there in just an hour or two-"
"Perfect! Ready Ducklair's spaceship. Darkwing's got a little girl to rescue."
"On it, hero!" One nodded happily and took to the preparations.
Darkwing was slightly flabbergasted. "Wait, y-you have a spaceship?"
Donald looked back at Darkwing as he removed his suit from where it hung on a support beam. "It's not mine, but yeah, I guess I have a spaceship."
"Ok, I am officially jealous."
Donald laughed, zipping up his jumpsuit. "You mean you weren't when green eyes woke you up?" He gestured at One, who flashed his virtual teeth in pride at the two.
Darkwing rolled his eyes and mumbled, "Yyyyyyyup. The ol' Quackintosh is goin' bye-bye…"
Donald strapped on his mask, completing Duck Avenger's striking look. Darkwing put his hands on his hips and studied his friend.
This was the first time he had really been able to see Donald as the Duck Avenger, and, to be honest, he was very proud. This personality was never revealed to him in their long friendship, and Darkwing wondered why it never occurred to him that Donald had a superhero alter ego.
The look was perfect for him.
"You know, Donny, Duckburg's pretty lucky to have someone like you securing its streets," Darkwing complemented.
Duck Avenger preened a bit at his friend's remark. "Heh, thanks. St. Canard's got one heck of a hero of its own. So, wanna mask up and kick some Evronian tail?" Donald put a hand on his chin and strategically eyed Darkwing's mask in his jacket pocket.
Darkwing noticed and yanked the mask out. "Whoops! Got me there, Duck Avenger," said Darkwing, tying the mask to his head.
"You can call me DA, Darkwing," Duck Avenger smiled.
As Darkwing finished the knot, he shot a steely gaze in Duck Avenger's direction. "And you can call me DW."
The two superheroes marched to each other and high-fived, the mutual determination exciting them.
"I heard you've got a special phrase for battle," said Duck Avenger.
"Heh-heh." Darkwing crouched, wrapping his cape around himself. "Let's get dangerous."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Darkwing is back in business! Duck Avenger's along for the ride, and together, they're ready to rescue Gosalyn! It's time to make the Journey to Venus! 'Til next time!