The Duck

Danny lay in the cool damp grass, face half buried. The sunlight on his back heated his skin and his black hair. Sighing, Danny closed his eyes. He just wanted to sleep.

Right then and there, in the afternoon sun and the middle of the park, he determined that there was nothing on the planet that would get him to budge even an inch. He didn't care that Sam and Tucker would be worried when he didn't return from the fight with Skulker. He didn't care that Lancer was sure to give him detention for skipping class again. He didn't care that his parents would be disappointed again. He didn't care if he got sunburned.

He. Didn't. Care.

He just wanted sleep. His chest ached for it. His limbs felt heavy, and numb. The battle to keep his eyelids from closing had become constant.

He wasn't going to fight it anymore.

Blissfully, the world around him lost all substance. The heat of the sun and the cool of the grass, the distant rumble of cars and the soft trickling of a stream, and the sweet smell of the freshly it grass all blended and faded away into comforting darkness.

"Quack"

Danny jolted back, his head shot up. A mallard stood four feet away, staring at him. Sending the duck a murderous scowl, Danny flopped back down. He closed his eyes again, and grumbled into the grass, "go away."

Faster than could be considered healthy, Danny drifted off again.

"Quack"

His eyes snapped open. He groaned, but didn't move. He refused to.

"Quack"

The duck was closer. Danny didn't even flinch.

"Quack"

He absolutely refused to acknowledge the duck.

"Quack"

With a sigh, Danny cracked open one eye and peered up at the duck who now stood inches from his face.

"I said go away, you stupid bird."

He flopped his head over, turning away from the duck. A cold webbed foot pressed against his shoulder. More pressure was applied and then came the other webbed foot. Danny sighed, closing his eyes tight, willing for the oblivion to consume his consciousness. The duck padded to the middle of his back and sat. After a moment Danny tiredly let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The warm weight between his shoulder blades didn't move.


"JAZZ! TUCKER! I FOUND HIM! HE'S OVER-" Sam stopped yelling when she noticed his sleeping face smashed into the grass.

Her two friends came running up behind her. She held out a hand, motioning for them to be quiet.

"Is… is that a duck on his back?" Tucker whispered, wide eyed.