AN: Hello guys. I'm around, yes. I'm dearly sorry that I have not posted anything in several years... I can't believe it's been almost 8 years since I've touched this story... I am so sorry to all my followers. I've had problems the last few years. I've lost my muse to draw and write. But this new chapter has me excited and I'm happy that I was able to continue this. I'll be working on the next chapter and several of my other stories. It will take some time, I must say. But bare with me. I need lots of encouragement. lol I am actually working on my Ducks and Turtle's: Unite! fanfic also. As for my art, I have lots of Bleach as a muse. It is an awesome anime. Such beautiful characters. :)

Anyway, here we go guys. I also apologize that this chapter is a little short. I hate this years long writers block... :((

Love of A Leader

Chapter 6

Disclaimer: I do not own anything mentioned in this story besides the plot and storyline itself. Thank you.

"Well, well, well… What do we have here?" Mallory sneered from her spot at the kitchen table as I walked in the next morning. "Why, it's our little gay team captain. How did you and that gay thief enjoy your night?"

I glowered at her, choosing not to answer. Instead I started on figuring out what I wanted to eat for breakfast.

"What? Aren't you gonna talk?"

I could feel her glare on my shoulders as I grit my teeth to keep myself in check. I heard her huff at my silence while I fixed myself some toast with butter and honey and a small cup of juice to wash it down. I stood at the counter with the paper as I ate my small breakfast, glancing through to see if anything besides the daily weather caught my eye. Earth's weather was so strange compared to Puckworld's… And the constant sunshine in Anaheim (1) made me miss the snow more and more. I brought my attention back as I could practically feel Mallory's temper rising as I continued to ignore her snide remarks from earlier.

"Gonna ignore me, huh? Can't even talk to me, now that you're…"

"You want to talk so badly?" I finally spat angrily as I slapped the paper down on the counter and spun to pin her with my gaze. "Then talk, damnit! Go ahead. Yell at me, scream in my face. Take your hatred out on ME and bitch for all you're worth. Spit in my face, I don't give a flying shit at this point! I don't care! I am not stopping you, McMallard! But, no one treats my brother that way. No one! Not even you. Especially not you!"

Mallory sat back in her seat and coolly stated, "Heh… I don't see why not. Where's my reason not to? He's a freak, just like you. He should get the same treatment. It figures as much that you would stoop so low as to protect him from reality, itself. You're both faggots, Wildwing."

I bit the inside of my bill to keep from spitting back in fury. Trying to keep a cool head, I breathed, eyes studying her before narrowly asking, "What… do you have against us…?"

Her face paled beneath her feathers, and for an instant, seemed as if she were having an inner battle with herself as a series of unreadable emotions crossed her face. That instant quickly passed as I watched her harden her resolve once again and her eyes flashed venom in my direction.

"You're disgusting. Pathetic, weak. Worthless. A faggot? Really, Wildwing…? It's outrageous, going with one of your own gender. This is unbecoming of a good captain. I just… I can't believe you would lower yourself to such standards. Why Canard made you captain, I'll never know nor understand."

The words thrashing my team title stung but I ignored them as I spat back, the overflowing anger beginning to lace my voice, "It's called 'Love,' Mallory. Have you ever heard of it? Felt it? With that cold, cruel heart, Mallory, I would assume that you've never known what true love really is. It's not on the outside or the gender that matters when two beings love one another. It's the heart, mind, and soul. And yours seems to be frozen over."

The redhead under my gaze studied the tabletop while absently stirring her coffee. She seemed… off… somehow. Problems or complications within the team normally didn't cause this much drama, and especially not like it has with this situation and Mallory's temper. And… wait… was that a tear…? If it was, it was blinked away too quickly to tell for certain. She suddenly stood, seeming too calm as she deposited of her coffee cup in the sink and strode out the door. I didn't look after her, unsure and uncertain over absent tears. Head going to my hands, I slumped into the seat across from the chair Mallory had occupied, my mind echoing the berating she had given me.

"You're disgusting…"

"Worthless…"

"Pathetic… weak… "

"Unbecoming of a good captain… "

"Why Canard made you captain I don't know nor understand… "

"…Disgusting…"

A pale, slender hand rested on my arm, breaking me from my thoughts. Nosedive… The sound of chair legs grating against the linoleum floor greeted my ears as he sat down next to me. I could tell he didn't know what to say as silence engulfed us for several moments, making me wonder if he'd heard any of what was said.

"…Wing…"

Unmoving, I shifted my eyes to look at him for a second before looking away, "Hmm…?"

"You… you alright, big bro…?"

".. 'm fine, Dive…" I mutter, mostly to myself. Was it I was trying to reassure myself of that as well…?

"You sure…? She still seems… a bit hot under the collar.."

From the way he made it sound, maybe he'd caught part of our argument earlier… I closed my eyes with a sigh, mentally gathering myself, and stood from my seat to make myself some coffee. "I'm sure, little bro. Don't worry about it. We were… just chatting.."

I could feel his withering look on my back that I knew also read "Yeah… right…" before I heard him get up and pull out a bowl and the milk then search through the cabinets to find which choice cereal he had. Tanya and Grin came in soon after for their own breakfast and I left in search of Mallory with coffee in hand. Perhaps I could try this again…? I found her on the ice, circling the rink with a blank look on her face and headphones on her head. Leaning against the rink's railing, I silently watched her effortless movements flow as she seemed to dance in a world of her own. Her mind seemed preoccupied, green eyes unfocused and gazing into space.

"Mind tell me what's own your mind?" I called to her after a few moments when she got close enough to hear me over the music. I only knew she heard me by her reaction of her eyes darkening and her turning away. When she didn't answer, I continued, "You know, you can still talk to me about what's troubling you. I'm still the same drake I was before, Mal…"

She skid to a stop in front of me, and I wondered for a second if I'd gotten to her as ice showered over me, making me cover my coffee mug with my hand. I studied her narrowed eyes as she stared at the ice, the seconds seeming to stretch into hours as neither of us spoke. Finally, her head snapped up, eyes briefly meeting mine as she pulled down her headphones. Her eyes were red-rimmed and seemed to be slightly watery, filled with pain-laced raging fire. Pain…?

"That's not what my father drilled into my head…" ice and venom seemed to drip from her words as she stepped off the ice and turned away.

"Mallory..?"

She kept walking as I called after her. Confused, I pondered to myself. What did her father have to do with anything? And what did he drill into her head…? I knew he was a general in the military on our home world and as this, I knew they had many standards.. But… the bottom line was, our military on Puckworld didn't have anything against homosexuals… So what was the deal…

Puzzled and confused, I shook my head with a heavy sigh and sipped my coffee. Feeling a headache lingering, I mused to myself about what the team would say if I dumped a few shots of Irish Crème in my joe. The thought of Irish Crème made me drool slightly as I left the arena. It was too early for liquor… but who cared? And I was sure Mallory would eventually come to me later.

Setting off to find my Irish Crème, I reminded myself to find Phil later. We had a scheduling in a few weeks with the WWE. Nosedive didn't know yet, but Eric Bishof (2) had called to rent the Pond for the show. I was trying to save it as a surprise for my little bro, sort of at least. Unless he gets their show schedule, of course. It's so difficult to keep a secret around here… Chuckling at my thoughts and also my delight as I found my Irish Crème, I added my desired amount and put the whole mug into the microwave. Sometimes, I amaze myself. How I've managed to keep my stash of alcohol hidden in this place is beyond me, but I wasn't complaining. If that's the one secret I do keep here, then so be it.

I was still in the kitchen when Duke found me. It was almost noon now. Maybe a bit after… I've lost track of time.. I had spoken to Phil and finished off the last pot of coffee (along with about a quarter of my Irish Crème, I might add) and I had another pot brewing while I munched on a grilled tuna and egg sandwich and read over the files scattered on the table. His hot breath against my feathers caused me to shiver as I could feel him peering over me, strong, sturdy hands rested on my upper arms,

"Whatcha doin', Wil'wing?" His accented voice caused more shivers through my body as it brush past my ear.

If a duck could purr, I'm definitely sure I would have been purring then. I glanced back at him with a smile. "Nothing of particular interest, really. It's just some of our old battle reports."

With a chuckle that vibrated against my back, he leaned into me. "Sounds like a page turner… Sure ya' can read Tawny's handwriting?"

"If I can read Dive's scribbling, I'm sure I can manage with Tanya's," I answered with an arched brow. "But, believe it or not, she mostly types her reports."

Nodding, Duke settled into a chair, pausing to turn it around backwards. An amused look graced his face. "Dive scribbles, huh? I would've thought da' kid would've had girly writing."

"Are you kidding? Have you seem my brother's handwriting?" My favorite ex-thief shook his head, at which I flipped though the reports to find the one on Dive's and Buzz's kidnapping. I dropped it in his hands. "I could only read half of this report. See if you can."

His amber eye scanned over the paper, a frown crossing his face. He turned it over, eyes narrowing and the frown deepening throughout parts of the report. He glanced up at me before turning back to the file.

"And you said you couldn't read this? I admit though, his writing is pretty bad.."

With an odd glance at him as I continued to read my own report, I answered. "No, his writing got worse halfway through the report… Why? Can you?"

"Yes, actually.. Did you know that Dragonus tied them both up to the ejection pods and were going to send them into space? If Mal had been ten seconds later… They wouldn't be here…"

Silence crossed us and echoed through the kitchen. That though kept repeating itself over in my head… If it wasn't for Mallory.. Dive would be dead…..

1) It's so sad to realize I couldn't remember how to spell Anaheim… :(

2) Ok, so this is how long it's been since I left off on this story… Eric Bishof was in the original copy, so I left it at that since I'm even less fond of some of the managers they have now. lol

AN: I'm just thankful that I kinda remember what I'm doing with Mal-mal. lol Anyway, I hope ya'll enjoyed. I'll be working on other stuff and hopefully it won't be another year before I finish anything... :(( Love you guys!

~~RaneyLee~~