"What are you doing?"
It had been close to a week since his talk with Airika and Duke had slowly begun to learn things about her that the other ducks didn't know. About her family, the times when she and Lucretia weren't so different and were best friends; the list went on.
He turned to see Mallory staring at him. "What do you mean what am I doing?"
"With her, what are you doing?"
"Um, its called being nice."
"No, its called leading her on. She isn't in the right frame of mind Duke. She's impressionable and she's going to gravitate towards the first guy who's nice to her."
Duke scratched his head. "So what are you saying McMallard? That I'm going to fuck her up worse than she already is?"
The red head bristled. "Not on purpose."
"Here's a thought, stay out of it." He walked away, leaving her to glare after him. Then she saw Wildwing come into view from the hangar, having come back with Nosedive from an errand.
"Wing." She stopped in front of him. "You need to do something about Duke and if you don't then I will."
He glanced at her. "What are you talking about?"
"He's getting a little too cozy with Airika."
Nosedive looked from his brother to her. "Well that's good isn't it? She's finally settling down with us. He won't do anything to her."
"She's not mentally strong enough for any sort of relationship. I'm only looking out for her. I don't want her to get hurt worse than she's already been."
Wildwing sighed. "I see your point Mal, I really do. But it's not really our business. The only person who knows what's best for her is Airika herself."
"But-"
"Mal," Wildwing interrupted. "It's going to fine. I'll watch them a little more closely but I'm not going to interfere."
Knowing she was talking to her leader and not her other half, Mallory felt she was tied. Not liking the feeling, she turned on her heels and marched away.
…
Airika watched the redhead go, having heard the whole exchange. Before Wildwing or Nosedive caught her she slipped into the shadows, watching them finally leave too. Knowing she was going to be in trouble for leaving, she stowed the thoughts of consequences away and quietly slipped out of the garage door that Nosedive had forgot to close.
…
Nightlife in Anaheim was well underway as Airika wandered downtown. It was well after eleven pm when she decided she should return home-home…. Funny she thought of the Pond that way.
"Well well Airika, what are you doing out here? And so alone?"
She froze and then half turned to see Lucretia saunter towards her. Her twin smirked.
"A change of plans my dear twin." Airika found herself staring at the end of a Saurian blaster. "After our last stint in the bathroom at the mall, the Lord and I have decided to shoot you and have me take your place. Should be a dream." She gave a sweet smile; one Airika knew was totally unlike her true evil self.
"They'll know," she finally whispered. "They'll know the difference."
Lucretia tsked, "you forget, I was in drama in school. I can be anything, anyone. Just watch me. Oh wait, no…" Lucretia clicked the safety off. "-You won't." And fired.
The blaster sliced in half as Duke suddenly appeared from somewhere. Startled, Lucretia dropped what was left of the weapon.
"Lucretia, wish I could say it's a nice surprise to see you."
She beamed facedly. "Duke is it? I forget all your names."
"Yeah, well we didn't mean too much to you so I'm not surprised."
She gave a fake smile and slapped the bracelet on her wrist, and disappeared in a green flash, her middle finger the last to go. Airika stared at the spot her sister had vanished from and then to Duke's back, which was turned to her.
Duke deactivated his saber and then realized his side was killing him. Glancing down he realized with a shock he had been shot; apparently he hadn't missed the bullet like he had previously thought though now through the pain, he thought how stupid it was that he believed that. Otherwise it would be Airika who would be sporting a hole in her, not him. It wasn't the first time he had been shot but this was definitely the most painful. Steeling himself for the pain, he turned to face her.
"What the hell are you doing out here?"
She refused to look at him, looking everywhere but at him. "I wanted to go for a walk," she whispered.
"A walk." He repeated, staunchly trying to ignore the biting pain. "In a city where the Raptor is cloaked and we have zero idea where the hell it is."
She finally looked at him, her face completely blank. "I want to go back."
"Go back where?" He snapped. Her answer stunned him to silence.
"The Raptor."
He forgot to be angry with her. "Why?"
"Because it made sense, life made sense. I wake up, Siege beats on me, I sleep, I hear insults, and maybe I eat. But this," She looked down at herself, thinking back to the mall outing she and Mallory had taken so long ago. "-this is a lie to me. I'm living a lie."
He watched her for several minutes silent. Then he cleared his throat, wincing a little as it made the pain worse. "I'll tell you what, the next time I see the Saurians or your sister, I'll let you go." He took a step away from her. "If that's what you want. We thought we were doing a good thing by getting you away from them, but if it's them you crave, then so be it. Next time we won't bother." He walked by her.
She felt tears brim her eyes. Silently she followed him back to the Pond, careful to stay a good distance away.
…..
The others were waiting in the Hangar when the two returned. Mallory instantly zeroed in on Airika.
"What happened?" She demanded, going to the girl and putting her arms around her. Airika shook against her.
Duke turned stiffly to glare at the red head. "Ask her. Tanya I need you." He left the room and the ducks bewildered. Confused, Tanya followed Duke's wake.
Unfolding his arms, Wildwing exchanged a glance with Mallory and then left the hangar.
…..
"What's going on?"
Duke rolled his eyes without looking at his leader. Wildwing paused, noticing the bloody gauze and Tanya bent over Duke.
"What happened?"
"Noticed have you?" Duke snapped. "I was shot by Lucretia, saving that girl's ass."
Tanya stopped what she was doing. "You don't need to be so harsh about it Duke. She's an adult, she can do what she wants."
"She doesn't want to be here Wing, K? I say just let her go. We've done our part."
"What the hell you talking about?" Wildwing asked.
"She said," Duke spoke slowly on purpose. "She doesn't want to live a lie here. She wants to return to the Raptor."
"I can't allow that." Wildwing murmured.
Duke tsked. "Why?"
"Because, it's not just because I've grown to like her and want to help her, but she's seen too much here. If she returns to the Raptor then she can be used against us with or without her will." He stared at the older mallard. "Besides, I thought you liked her. Why the sudden change in attitude?"
Duke didn't answer, leaving Wildwing enough time to guess.
"You do like her, you were worried about her, went to save her and then now you're hurt she doesn't want to be here."
Duke still remained silent.
"Just because she doesn't want to be here doesn't mean she doesn't like us. Everything here is new to her. You can't blame her for wanting to return to what she knows even if it means abuse every day. You can't tell me that if we ever returned to Puckworld that you wouldn't jump at the chance to return to the Brotherhood."
Duke glanced sideways at his leader. Wildwing sighed and drew up a chair to sit. "What did you say to her exactly?"
….
Mallory was first to see the three return. She stood up, protectively in front of Airika. "Back off Duke. I think you've done enough tonight."
Duke watched her tiredly and stayed where he was. "I'm not gonna to fight," He finally said.
"Everyone needs to go to bed, to cool off. We'll talk about this in the morning," Wildwing said. "Go." He said forceful when no one moved. Duke was first to go, then Grin and Tanya. Finally it was just Wildwing, Nosedive, Mallory and Airika.
"Airika, I want you to sleep in our room for a while."
She didn't act like she heard him. After a minute, Mallory pulled her up, off the couch and led her to their room. The redhead only paused long enough to listen to the undertone of the two brothers talking to each other before soft footfalls coming towards her made her move into the bedroom.