A/N: That took me longer than I expected! Lately I've been lazier than usual, but I never fail to deliver. Dante will finally get to know the whole gang of the Loonatics, what will their reaction be? Read to find out!

The flight took them no longer than thirty minutes. And yet, Ace thought, the boy next to him had fallen asleep like a rock. He could hear the light snores leaving his beak, and from the corner of his eye he saw the young mallard leaning on the motorcycle's glass window; Dante had fallen asleep while gazing outside, it seemed, and the light humming of the vehicle lured him to sleep.

The older Looney couldn't fight the small smile that came to his face as he looked up ahead; it was an odd feeling, but seeing the boy so calm, made him feel at ease as well.

'I wonda' if d'is is what parenti'n feels like...' He thought quietly, and sighed as he saw the headquarters right ahead. He needed to push his thoughts aside for now, as there was another matter for him to take care of.

Ace maneuvered the motorcycle around some buildings, and made it back to the base in no time. He pushed a few buttons next to the panel board of his vehicle, and dialed his signal to the base. He didn't wait too long for someone to pick up- actually, it hardly lasted a second. The reason was rather obvious.

'Hey-Ace! Are-you-nearby? I'm-getting-anxious-here! Well,-not-in-a-bad-way,-because-I-don't-want-the-kid-to-take-it-the-wrong-way,-but-you-get-my-point,-right!?' As usual, Rev's quick speech gave Ace a very accurate image of the Road Runner, probably babbling and speaking and being fidgety, all over the news he had delivered a while ago.

'Poor Lexi.' Ace chuckled at the thought of his teammates dealing with a nervous Rev and shook his head, fully knowing the other couldn't see that because they were using the comm. link. "Relax Rev, kiddo's asleep. I just arrived by da way, t'ink ya can open da door and let us in?"

He heard a small gasp. 'Oh,-definitely! Hang-on!'

Ace heard a 'click' in the background, and then heard the metallic door sliding open. He thanked Rev and got inside as soon as his vehicle could pass through. "I'll get there right away, tell da o'das ta wait for us in da main room, a'ight?" He said as he parked the vehicle, and heard Rev making an affirmative sound before cutting the comm. link.

The bunny looked down at Dante once he took his seat belt off, and carefully started to shake him by his shoulder to avoid his beak hitting the window. "Hey, Dante? We arrived." A little groan, but nothing, Ace chuckled. "Move or I'll be forced ta use ano'da powa' of mines, kid." He warned.

"...Mmmmnoooo..." The mallard mumbled, moving away from the hand shaking him.

Ace grinned. "I warned ya." He undid the boy's seat belt.

Dante's eyes shot open as he just realized what was about to happen. "...W-wait, no-!" Too late.

Loud giggling and a few yelps echoed in the parking lot of the headquarters, as Ace mercilessly tickled the mallard under his arm's pits and stomach. Dante giggled and squirmed, but didn't kick, and Ace couldn't help but laugh as well at the display.

"A-Ace! Sto-o-o-p i-it!" Dante tried to say between his fits of giggling, using his hands to push Ace's off him in vain.

"Not 'til ya admit defeat!" The older Looney cried so he could be heard over the laughter.

The young mallard was running out of breath, so he had no choice. "I-I give! I GIVE! I SAID IT!" The hands were quickly removed and Dante took a deep breath, and then released it as a relieved sigh, but he kept giggling and chuckling as he laid sprawled on the seat. "You huge jerk!"

Ace gasped and acted offended, putting a hand over his chest to exaggerate it. "Ya mean, ya ain't interested into meeti'n my friends anymore? Ya would ra'da sleep here instead?"

"I didn't say that!" Dante sat up and looked at Ace with a little glare, but his eyes were smiling. "I meant that there should have been a better way to wake me up!"

"Maybe there was, but tickli'n ya was both da fastest and da funniest way ta do it." He laughed lightly as the young Looney huffed. Ace then turned around and opened the door. "But really, let's go kiddo, before Rev's motor mouth ticks everyone off." He got off the motorcycle after picking the box with the kid's belongings, and Dante soon followed him out. Ace closed the door, and the two started to make their way towards the main room. It was a few floors up, so they called an elevator and waited for it to arrive.

Ace felt something tugging lightly on his leg, and he looked down to see Dante; he wasn't looking at his new guardian, but Ace could make something out of his expression as the kid glanced at the floor. "...Ya worried?"

"Not really." He mumbled.

"Nervous?"

"...Yeah, actually." Dante glanced up at Ace, frowning lightly. "I mean, I don't even know how they're called; you just said one of them was Rev, but I don't know who he is. And I'm pretty sure he knows at least something about me."

Seeing his point, Ace flashed him a smile. "How 'bout I tell ya a little 'bout them? D'at way ya can make ya self an idea of my friends."

The mallard nodded, eagerly. "Yeah, sounds good!"

"Well, I ain't sure if they will be weari'n da uniforms when we arrive, but I'll tell ya da basic stuff." Ace held the box under one arm to make a few motions with the other. "OK so, like I told ya we're all Looneys; one of them is Rev, he is a Road Runna' and wears a red uniform, he is very nice and energetic, kinda behaves like a kid your age, but he's pretty smart when we need him ta. He talks very fast too, for reals, ya betta' be patient with him. Then there's Tech, he is a Coyote and wears green, a complete genius; he comes with all da gadgets and vehicles we use, like da motorcycle."

"He made that?" Dante asked amazed, turning to see all the vehicles parked. "All from scratch?"

Ace nodded. "Yeah, he likes ta prove himself with his work every time. He is pretty quiet, but he's nice once ya get ta know him." He heard a 'ding', and saw that the elevator had arrived. The door slid open and they walked in, and Ace pressed the button of the floor they were heading to before continuing. "Ano'da guy in our team is Slam, a Tasmanian Devil, built like a house and is a bottomless pit, but Slam is a very good partna' and ya can't help but watch after him sometimes, also, he doesn't speak too clearly so don't worry if ya don't get him at first. Finally, there's Lexi." Dante looked up, blinking. "Yeah, she's a girl, ain't nothi'n wrong with d'at, ya know?" He smiled a bit as he saw the kid blush with embarrassment.

"I didn't say that, but, is she the only girl in your team?" The kid looked at Ace. "Because, I mean, being the only girl or boy in a group is not very nice."

Now Ace blinked. "How so?"

Dante glanced down, avoiding eye contact. "Well... when the orphanage was full of people, me and Pinkster were always the only Looneys there, so the rest of the kids always pushed us aside." He made a small throat noise, it sounded angry. "They were all jerks, honestly. At least we always had each other."

"Pinksta' was da kid in da photo, right?" Ace hummed as Dante nodded in agreement. "Ya were da last two ta be picked."

The mallard nodded again, softer this time. "Yeah..." The older Looney just noticed that was a sore spot for Dante, so he put his hand on his shoulder for a silent comfort.

"...Ya know? I used ta t'ink d'at, when Lexi joined us, but soon we all noticed she hardly cared 'bout d'at; she's very tough, tougher than any of us if I say so." Dante finally looked up at him, seeming amazed to hear about Lexi. "She's intelligent, and has a strong will and personality too. We're close ta each o'da, and I know I can trust her with anythi'n."

"She sounds pretty cool... and so does the rest." Dante looked down quietly.

Ace looked pensive for a while, before speaking up. "Look, if ya are nervous, ya don't have ta do or say anythi'n, I'll be backi'n ya up if ya want me ta."

Dante looked at him. "Uh, sure I guess..."

"They are all very close ta me, but..." The older Looney turned serious. "Honestly, I'm not sure how they'll react when they see d'at ya have powa's, because I hadn't told them; they'll be worried at first I guess, because we neva' thought a kid could do what we do, so if they start maki'n too many questions or ya feel too uncomfortable, ya can tell me. A'ight?" His looks softened.

The mallard nodded softly, seeming now more at ease, before turning his head at his guardian. "...Thanks, Ace." He smiled lightly.

"No problem." The older Looney smiled down at him, and then the elevator reached their stop. With a sigh, Ace let Dante hold his hand as they walked down the corridor towards the only door that separated them from the rest of the team.

They stood in front of it, looked at each other with a slight nervous glance, and then Ace entered the secret code to enter.

He heard the usual 'click', and finally opened the door. Dante stood hidden behind his leg, but the leader didn't open the door completely; he needed to see if all his teammates were there.

As Ace expected, they were all at the entrance, staring directly at him with questioning looks and slight variations; Slam seemed more confused than anything, Rev had a slight anxious look in his eyes, and Lexi and Tech... well, they both exported serious looks, but that's how he expected them to be.

"...Sorry for da wait." He started, feeling Dante shifting behind his leg.

There was a short moment in where no one said anything, until Lexi spoke up: "...So, are we going to meet the boy or...?"

The leader sighed lightly, nodded, and looked behind of him. Dante was nervous, but managed to nod, and followed Ace when he entered the room.

He heard a few soft gasps, and looked up nervously from his spot behind Ace's leg.

"A Looney kid?" Tech looked at Ace, his serious look replaced by one of surprise. "Is that why you adopted him?"

"Actually-" Ace tried to explain as he closed the door and walked near them, but a sudden yelp of Dante made him whip his head behind of him and saw Rev picking the boy in his arms. "Hey, Rev!"

Rev's face was one of adoration an excitement as he held the boy at arm's length. "Oh,-just-look-at-him! He-reminds-me-of-Rip-when-he-was-a-little-baby! So-cute-and-tiny!" Dante blinked many times, surprised of how fast this guy's speech was. "My-name-is-Rev! I'm-so-happy-to-finally-meet-you,-Dante!"

"N-nice to meet you too...?" The mallard boy said quietly. He then felt somebody else picking him up, it was Ace.

"Easy Rev." Was all he said after setting Dante down again. "Ya guys need ta hear me out first."

Lexi crossed her arms, she still seemed serious, but her looks had considerably softened when she laid her eyes on the boy. "What happened Ace? It's not really your style to take these sort of decisions without telling us anything."

The leader made a motion towards the sofas, and they all got the message. The Loonatics took their usual spots on the seats, but Ace was the only one who stood up. Dante wasn't sure if he should sit as well, but when Ace motioned him towards a small seat near him, he obeyed and sat down.

Ace then explained everything to them, having practicing the speech the whole way back from the orphanage. Everyone listened carefully, and they all seemed touched when they heard about Dante being the only one left in the building, but he still hadn't reached the whole details when Tech asked: "I think I can understand how you felt about it, but you must have given this a lot more of thought, Ace."

"Mm-hmm..." Slam nodded next to him, quietly.

"I couldn't t'ink 'bout it." This response form their leader made them all look up in surprise. "Da reason I took him with me is because we need ta protect him, and not because he's an orphan, guys."

Lexi seemed confused. "What do you mean?"

Ace finally looked at Dante, who sat nervously during the whole explanation, and motioned him to come. The mallard stood up and walked next to Ace's side. The older Looney looked at his teammates once he felt the boy right next to him. "...He's got powa's like us."

"What!?" They all said in unison, eyes wide and unbelieving.

"Him? But-why!? He's-TOO-young-to-have-powers!" Rev said, worriedly, but Ace shook his head.

"Wish I knew, but da reason he was still there was because of d'at." Ace looked at them. "It was only a matta' of time before someone heard 'bout him and made a ruckus of it, or worse. D'ats why I couldn't leave him back there, he could've been in serious danga'."

Everyone looked at each other, their shock making it difficult for them to try and comprehend the situation at hand. Lexi looked down at Dante with a worried glance, then at Ace. "...You do realize that it will be dangerous for him to stay with us as well, right?"

"I know d'at, Lex." Ace looked down, frowning lightly. "But, like I was told by da lady, there wasn't any betta' option for him." He then looked up. "I admit I should've told ya guys soona', but I wanted ta do it in person; and I know d'at it won't be easy for any of us, but we gotta make d'is work somehow."

"Err... Ace?" Slam's grumbling voice came up. "Wut can he doo?"

Ace blinked. "I... y'know? I'm not sure myself." Seeing all the blank expression his comment received, he hurried to explain. "I mean, I saw him activati'n his powa's! But not usi'n them." He looked down a bit nervously at Dante, as if hoping the other could help him out. The message was clear for the boy, thankfully.

But Dante wasn't very happy about it.

"You see..." He started quietly. "It's just that..."

"You dun know?" Slam asked quietly. Ace took that in mind, it wouldn't be surprising to know that the boy had no idea of what his abilities could do. But seeing Dante shake his head confused him.

Ace then remembered what he had promised. "Ya don't have ta prove anythi'n now." He reminded the young Looney. "Ya can do d'at some o'da time-"

"It's not that."

"Huh?"

Dante looked down, his hands were shaking a bit, and he held them together in front of him. "...It's, it's just... they aren't... 'safe' to use." He couldn't meet any of the confused glances the Loonatics were giving him. "...Every couple that came for the interviews said the same thing..."

This stuck them quite hardly.

"You mean..." Lexi said quietly, looking down at him. "Your powers appeared whenever a couple came to see you?" Dante gave a faint nod. "...I'm sorry to ask this, but, how are they not 'safe'?"

"Um,-Lexi-..." Rev tried to intervene, but she just continued. "I'm asking that because, in short terms, our powers can cause a lot of damage, but since we had learned to use them, they aren't labeled as 'dangerous'."

Dante finally looked at her, blinking. "R-really?" She nodded, a very faith smile on her lips. "...But, they..."

Ace put a hand on his shoulder. "Never mind what they said, they couldn't understand your situation and freaked out, like any o'das." He looked at Dante with honest eyes. "...But we ain't any of them, kiddo."

It became quiet.

Dante looked at each one of them, trying to figure out their expressions- he always did that when any new couple came to see him, so that he could see if they were nervous or scared, because Gertrude had to explain his situation to everyone who came to see him; it became an habit after a while, see their initial fear, and then see that fear grow more as each minute passed.

That didn't happen with Ace, not that he thought about it. And this time around, the only faces he saw were ones of either understanding, or silent comfort.

"..." Dante sighed. "...Do I have to show them...?" He looked pleadingly at Ace.

His guardian gave him an assuring smile. "Well, d'at could be da betta' way."

The young mallard bit his tongue carefully; he thought about bringing out his piano, since it was one thing that tended to activate his powers. Something told him, however, that the instrument wouldn't be enough.

He then remembered when Ace showed him his powers back at the orphanage, what did he do? At first it seemed like he just stood still and nothing else, but Dante realized that the only thing Ace had probably done, was focus.

'Focus,' He repeated in his mind and closed his eyes, holding a small hope for that to work for him as well. 'I need to focus.' And that's what he did.

Everything had gone quiet once again, as all eyes were fixed on the young Looney. Dante kept his eyes closed, expecting something, anything to happen, but he felt nothing. He waited, but nothing changed or felt different within him.

He felt disappointed, and felt bad for disappointing Ace as well.

Dante was just about to give up, besides, he was starting to get thirsty-

"It-it's true!" He heard Tech's voice, and his eyes snapped open. His hands were glowing with a furious, blazing orange light.

Dante panicked as he recognized that one certain glow.

"Hey, what's up?" Ace blinked at the boy's expression, but quickly got his answer as the glow brightened and created a wave of heat.

"T-take cover!" Dante shouted, and everyone yelped as they hid behind the cushion. The heat got to a certain, familiar point, and the mallard closed his eyes, expecting the worse to happen.

...SPLAT!

His eyes opened quickly in confusion as the heat ended as quick as it started, and he looked down to find right in front of him a puddle of...orange juice? "...Huh, that's a new one." He mumbled, then looked up. "Um, false alarm!"

It was sort of amusing for the boy to the the heads of the Loonatics poking out from behind the sofa carefully. Ace looked down at the puddle, then at Duck questioningly. "Wait, d'ats what got ya nervous? Orange juice?"

"I wasn't expecting juice this time!" He said in his defense, and everyone moved from behind the sofa.

Rev inspected the puddle and tilted his head at the young mallard. "What-do-you-mean-'this-time'?" He asked.

Dante rubbed his arm. "Well, I have used this power a few times, but this is the first time it made orange juice... honestly, I'm glad it did."

Slam blinked. "Why?"

"Uh, what happened the other times?" Lexi questioned.

"...I nearly blew a room up this one time." He said quietly.

Everyone stared at him wide-eyed.

A/N: Not much process, say? First meetings are always awkward, but luckily things went pretty smoothly for Dante.

What will happen now? One way to find out is by looking after next update! (Which is already on the making... relax guys.) Please tell me your thoughts in the reviews page!

~DreamerAwaken.