I don't own Loonatics Unleashed
Enjoy!
Duck heard a pair of feet walking out of the graveyard as he turned his eyes and caught sight of a blonde female rabbit leaving. He didn't know who she was but he was glad that she was finally gone. He hated feeling vulnerable, especially in the eyes of others. The only time when he was able to show it was when he was alone. He didn't normally visit the cemetery but today was a special day. He felt that after such long hours at the pool and with a boss over his head, he felt that he needed some time to himself before heading home. Looking at the two names etched on the tombstones, he wondered how his biological parents were. He was just a duckling when he was in the orphanage and didn't have any vivid memories of his parents, only that he had heard rumors of how they died.
Killed in a house fire. Those were the words that the caretaker had used from what he could remember. There were no photographs of them or any evidence that they had even existed. It made Duck feel like he had been born from nothing to be a part of this world. Even though he didn't know them very well, he felt that he had a connection to these two. His eyes lowered to the base of the tombstone and he glared. "Why can't they take care of these things?" he mumbled as his tightened his grip on a couple of weeds and began to pull them out. They were quite the stubborn plants for the more he pulled, the harder he found it for them to come off. Giving the weeds one last pull, he felt himself being thrown back towards the ground and let out a grunt.
That's it! He was going to have a stern conversation with the cemetery caretakers of this place if he ever ran into them. Why couldn't his parents get the same care as all the other tombstones did? A sigh escaped his beak as he stood up and placed his hands inside his pockets. He didn't know what to say and didn't know what to think. He didn't even know how to feel. For a moment, there was nothing that he felt but then he imagined what his parents may have been like. His mother was probably gorgeous and his father was handsome. After all, from whom did he get all those good looks from? Were they successful in their life before their deaths? Considering that Duck got nothing from his side of the family when he became an adult, he felt that they didn't have a cent.
Be that as it may, Duck was thankful that he was at least given a home with a kind couple. Though as he grew, he felt that there was a distance between him and them. He talked to his adoptive parents on occasion, but he didn't wish to be a burden to them anymore than he was. At least his biological parents would know that he was in good hands, wherever they were. He slightly turned before glancing over at the tombstones once more as if he was memorizing their names.
Ben Duck and Grace Duck
2715 – 2755
2720 – 2755
And there were their dates of birth and when they died respectively. He was only five at the time when they died. The moment that he walked out of the cemetery, he didn't even want to go home. He knew that Miranda was probably waiting for him but he knew that he didn't need to head there right away. He hoped that she would understand with him being a bit delayed. He was in no mood to deal with an angry girlfriend over something so miniscule.
As he walked across the street, he headed into the Quick Wrap Sandwich Shack and slinked into one of the booths. He never dreamed of heading inside a run-down place like this with food that would probably be horrible towards his health. He looked around the restaurant. Not many people were in, he could smell the oil frying from the back of the room, and two roadrunners tending to the customers.
Great Duck thought with a roll of his eyes. If he knew anything about roadrunners, the moment that they started to speak they would never stop. Curiosity took over him as he looked at the menu that was displayed on his table. Nothing that was appetizing, but he could go for a soda. Before he knew it, one of the roadrunners was right next to his table.
"Hi-welcome-to-the-Quick-Wrap-Sandwich-Shack-what-can-I-get-for-you?" she asked Duck with an increased speed that he didn't make out half of what she said.
"Just a Coke," Duck said to her.
"No-sandwich?" she asked him, "we-do-have-some-specials-for-a-great-price."
Did he stutter? "Just a coke," Duck said to her.
"Are-you-sure?" she asked him as she tried to drag out her words but they ended up with the same speed. "You-seem-to-be-like-the-type-of-fella-who-would-enjoy-a—"
Here it comes Duck groaned as he rolled his eyes to the ceiling and tried to keep his temper at a minimum. Could today just be over already? Tough day at work, visiting the cemetery on this day, and now a waitress that wouldn't shut her mouth. "Look!" he interrupted her as he looked at her name tag, "Michelle. I didn't ask for a sandwich but for a Coke. Either get it or I'll ask someone else to do it. So just get to it!"
He didn't care if he sounded harsh to her or if her features changed from happiness, to shock, and to large grin on her face.
Michelle didn't say a word and disappeared towards the back of the restaurant whilst withholding that grin upon her features.
Rev looked up when he heard the doors of the kitchen opening. Uh-oh, he knew that look on her face and it wasn't good. "Michelle," he said as he sped over to her, "what-happened?-What-did-you-do?"
"You-try-to-make-customers-feel-welcomed-but-no," she said as she rummaged through some of the soda cans. Instead of a Coke, she pulled out a Pepsi. "They-just-demand-it-out-of-you-like-you're-their-servant."
Rev noticed her grip tightening around the soda can. "I-wouldn't-do-anything-if-that's-what-you're-planning-Cookie-is-going-to-get-mad!"
"Why-Rev-I'm-only-going-to-show-him-what-happens-when-you-open-a-soda-can-too-quickly," she grinned as she held the soda can between both of them as if she was presenting it to Rev.
Before Rev knew it, she grabbed the soda can and began to shake it in the air. Rev flew towards her and tried to pry the soda can out of her hands but she dodged him as she continued to shake the can as rapidly as possible. "Stop-shaking-it!-It's-gonna-explode-in-front-of-us."
Michelle didn't listen. She had dealt with many rude customers, but this one was different. She was not going to be mistreated this way. What felt like a long couple of minutes of shaking the soda can, she placed the base of the can on the palm of her hand and headed out of the kitchen. Beholding an innocent smile upon her lips, she placed it in front of Duck. "Here-you-go-enjoy!"
Before Duck protested that he asked for a Coke and not a Pepsi, she zipped away. Duck groaned and muttered under his breath. He cracked the can open and the drink exploded in front of his face. He only sat there with a dissatisfied look upon his face.
Rev gasped at what he had just witnessed. She was going to be in big trouble with the cook and there was nothing that he could do about it. He ran out of the kitchen and over to Duck with a stack of paper towels. "I-am-so-sorry-about-that.-I-don't-know-what-came-over-my-coworker.-She-never-usually-acts-like-this-except-for-that-one-time—"
Duck placed his hands on his head and shut his eyes. "Enough!" he yelled and Rev stopped talking. "Just forget about it. Here," he slammed three dollars on the table. "And no tip!" He got up from the booth and stormed out of the shack.
He marched down the street with anger seeping through his veins. This lack of respect that he got from people was starting to get on his nerves. Why couldn't he get the same treatment as others did? How did he come to this situation in the first place?
After what seemed like a long time of walking, he was glad when he finally came towards the apartment complex. He headed up the stairs and was glad when he finally got inside the apartment. Slamming the door shut, he rested his back against the door and stood there for a minute.
"Duck?" he heard his name and looked up when he saw Miranda standing by the hallway. She frowned when she saw him mostly of the fact that he looked like a mess. She approached him and asked, "tough day."
You said it Duck thought but didn't respond to her. "I need to take a shower and just forget this day."
"But I thought we were going to do something later today…when you got home," she said to him.
"I can't," Duck said to her. "I just want this day to be over." He walked away from her and over to the shower where he just wanted to stay for a long time.
When he had finished getting clean and dressing for the night, Miranda got up from the couch and headed over to him. "Are you alright? Wanna talk about it?" she asked him as she approached the bed and sat right next to him.
He felt her hand touching his shoulder and relaxed at her touch. "No," he answered her.
These moods. Sometimes he reminded her of a child throwing a tantrum but she had gotten used to them in the end. "What happened?" she asked him.
"You wouldn't understand," he said.
"Try me," she shot back.
She's never gonna stop is she? Duck thought as he turned around and looked at her. "Picture this," he said, "long hours at the pool digging for treasure, paying a visit to the cemetery, and having a soda can explode in front of my face. How alright do you think I am?"
Miranda would have punched him if this wasn't a special day. She took a deep breath and sincerely looked at Duck. "Not everything is perfect the way we want it to be," she spoke.
"I just feel I'm not so lucky," Duck said to her.
There was that vulnerability that he rarely showed. However, Miranda had seen it a couple of times. No matter how hard he tried to cover it up, it was there and she knew that he didn't like it when she noticed. "Is that so?" she asked him, "look at where you are now. Your own place, you have a job…a girlfriend," she couldn't help but add that last bit. "What more luck do you want?"
He didn't want to be greedy but he also wanted some money too. Some money that they wouldn't run out of the moment that they paid their rent. "I like the last part."
"Of course you do and you better," she raised with a raised eyebrow. She let out a little sigh. Looks like they were not going to go out for the night as originally planned. Reacheing under the bed she pulled out a small box. "Happy birthday!"
Duck's eyes widened at the box. If there was anything else that he liked it was presents. "You shouldn't have," he said to her.
"Oh we both know how much you wanted a present," Miranda waved her hand in the air and sent him a playful glare, "open it up!"
Duck untied the bow from the box and opened the lid. "Whoa," he said as he held up the latest watch that had just come out. "A myWatch!"
"With new holographic features and many more," Miranda said to him.
This must have cost a lot but Duck was not going to ask how she even managed to get it. If there was another thing that he enjoyed it was these gadgets. He felt the watch close to him and looked over at Miranda. He wouldn't admit it openly, but he was glad that he had found someone that finally cared about him…and maybe just as much as he cared about himself. "Thank you," he said to her as he reached forward and gathered her in his arms.
Moments like that were always nice in Miranda's opinion and she enjoyed every second of it. She returned his hug by wrapping her arms around him and pushing him towards the bed where she snuggled right next to his side and witness his reactions with the myWatch.
