I don't own Loonatics Unleashed
Enjoy!
Next week couldn't have come any sooner. Before he had left for the week, Duck had taken responsibility and had spoken with Zadavia prior to going to the hospital. Duck knew that he was not on good terms with Zadavia, especially of the way that he had behaved. Even though Zadavia wanted to remain fair with her team, she couldn't afford being down one team member. Crime in this city was turning to be unpredictable and she felt that the Loonatics were needed more than ever.
"How about this?" Zadavia had said to him, after Duck had asked her a countless number of times of what he wished. "I will allow you half the day to be with your team members. However, the moment that there is a need for you, I will have Ace contact you."
Why did Duck have the feeling that this rabbit was her favorite? Teacher's pet he bitterly thought. Even though he didn't like it, he appreciated that Zadavia was kind enough to allow him some free time to be with Miranda. It wasn't as if he was going to abandon the team, but he just wanted to be sure that Miranda would be alright.
After having bought and packed some things for her, Duck decided to head over to the local hospital. He was surprised to see that the lounge area was empty, but his eyes feel upon a pair of coyote ears that were resting by the couch. Duck was surprised to see Tech out of his laboratory. The coyote had kept himself locked in there for the past week without speaking to anyone. Duck approached the couch and looked at the coyote, "hey," he simply greeted him.
Tech's ears perked up in surprise and looked at the source of the voice. "Oh…hey, Duck," he greeted him in return and then looked at the bag that he was carrying. "Going somewhere?" he asked him.
Duck motioned to the windows with his head. "Just to the hospital. Miranda is getting discharged today and I want to take her home."
Tech had never heard of this name before but he was quick to catch onto the relationship that Duck had with her. He slightly envied the mallard for having situated with a significant other. He wondered how someone with a personality like Duck's would find him to be appealing, but to each their own. "I'll let Ace know," he said to him. Just like Duck had looked out for him the day that he went to visit Quinn, he was willing to do the same for him.
Duck felt his shoulders relax at Tech's words. "Thanks," he said to him and without saying any other words, he headed out of HQ. He could have teleported from HQ and over to the hospital, but it was too nice of a day to let it go to waste. He went ahead and walked the street towards the hospital but as he did so, he could see the eyes of the citizens of Acmetropolis staring at him.
Their stares weren't domineering in any way. They were staring at him in admiration that he was part of a superhero league and that he was using his powers to save the people of Acmetropolis. "That's right people, stare away," Duck said as he walked past them. So, this was what it felt like to be important. Looks like all those months of being a pool boy has finally paid off.
With his ego fully boosted, he walked inside the hospital and found the room where Miranda had been staying for the past couple of weeks. When he got there, he saw that she was on her feet and polished. Of course, and Duck knew, that she always wanted to keep her appearance in a pristine condition even after going through such a predicament. He looked at her up and down and took in the outfit that she wore. "So, you're going dancing after this?" Duck asked her.
Fixing a strand of her hair, Miranda turned around and smiled when she saw him standing there. "I didn't know you were coming now," she said as she walked up to him and hugged him tightly. She missed having those arms around her especially when he was being protective. She looked down to the bag that he was carrying. "What have you got there?" she asked him.
"A couple of things that you like," Duck said and noticed that she was reaching for it. "But I won't give it to you now. Later, when we get home."
Miranda rested her head on his shoulder and snuggled close to him. "I can't wait to get out of here." A little sigh escaped her beak as she looked up at him. "You wouldn't believe the number of tests they ran on me. I never want to be back here again."
She had never liked hospitals but they were necessary. Even if the doctors and nurses may have been going overboard with their procedures, they just wanted to make sure that she was healthy. In contrast to Miranda, If Duck had been in the same position he would have wanted the doctors to do everything that they could and remain healthy for himself.
"At least you're officially out now," Duck said to her, "let's get out of here."
As the two of them proceeded to head out of the hospital, Miranda was glad to finally be out in the fresh air. She didn't want to head home directly , but the thought of being inside her warm bed was tempting and it was one of the many things that she had missed. "Once we get back home," Miranda said, "I'm ready to go back to bed."
At least she didn't have to wait for a long time to get there because by the time she said it, the two arrived at the apartment complex. It had been weeks ever since Duck had been to the apartment. He felt that there was nothing for him there when Miranda spent those weeks in the hospital. It would have been better if he checked up on the apartment, every couple of days but he had neglected to get the mail and shop for any essential products that were needed. As they two of them made their way up the stairs and towards the door, Duck saw the amount of mail that had spilled out of their mailbox. Some people decided to get mail the old-fashioned way and Miranda happened to be one of them. It would have been better if she got them virtually, that way the payments would be finished quickly. Even if Miranda didn't have it that way, Duck for sure did! He quickly took out his phone and scanned through any messages that he had from their landlord.
Did I forget to pay the rent? Oh man, I hope she doesn't find out. This month and last month's are going to be huge! he thought as he looked through the screen for anything familiar.
"Seriously Duck?" Miranda said, surprising him with her words.
"What?" he asked her.
"You didn't pay the rent," she said to him as if he had verbally said it a second ago.
How did she figure that out? Duck thought.
"Didn't you say it?" she asked him.
"Say what?" he asked her.
"About the rent!" she emphasized.
He didn't even remember saying anything about it. "You sure you're okay Miranda?" Duck asked her. Did those doctors miss a test? Is she going crazy? "OW!" he yelled when she punched his arm, "what was that for?"
"For calling me crazy!" Miranda said to him.
"I didn't call you crazy!" Duck said to her. Geeze, even after being out for weeks she still packs a punch. He rubbed his arm to soothe the pain.
He was standing right in front of her, rubbing his arm and his beak hadn't moved. Then where did those words come from? Miranda looked at Duck and thought to execute a little experiment with him. "What am I thinking about?" she asked him.
"What?" Duck asked her.
"Guess what I'm thinking about," Miranda told him.
Duck looked around the area where they stood before his eyes fell on her. "Me?" he asked her.
"Ha," Miranda laughed, "after that little comment, you wish." That earned her a glare but she brushed if off. "No, I was thinking about this rent!" she said as she lightly slapped his arm with the stack of mail that she had gathered.
At least that didn't hurt. He didn't know if this was a game that she had suddenly invented but it was quite strange that she randomly bought it up. "Okay then, what am I thinking about?" he played along with her.
Miranda looked at him and her eyes widened when she heard Duck's voice inside his head. "What do you mean I snore? At least I'm not loud like you!"
Duck couldn't believe it. He had not opened his beak and she had been able to read his thoughts? What was happening? "You…You were able to get inside my head," Duck pointed out to her, "which I don't approve of by the way. These thoughts are for me and no one else!"
"I'm not trying to," Miranda said to him, "I can't help it. I don't know why it's happening!"
"How long has it happened?" Duck asked her.
"I don't know," Miranda shook her head, "maybe ever since I woke up from that coma. Maybe it's the aftereffects of the tests that they did back in the hospital or maybe I am going crazy." She felt an incoming headache forming in the middle of her forehead, "or maybe I just need to sleep it off again."
Duck agreed with that statement. He opened the door for them and they walked in. Miranda didn't expect the apartment to be tidy and she only shook her head at the mild mess that was there. She was going to take care of it later, right after she had a long nap.
Beep, beep, beep…
Duck looked down at his wrist and rolled his eyes. "Ugh," he groaned, "I have to head back to HQ. Ace is grouping everyone for training. The Boss Lady literally told me that I would spend half the day with you! Has it been half the day already?"
Miranda tilted her head to the side. "Who's Ace…and this Boss Lady?"
"Superhero business," Duck said, "nothing for you to worry about."
Miranda frowned when he spoke to her like that. It wasn't as if he was keeping a secret identity or if their headquarters were a secret either.
"I'll try to get out of it as quickly as possible," Duck said as he threw an arm over her shoulder and pulled her close for a hug. "I'll see you later, okay?"
Miranda nodded her head to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him before he left. This superhero business was going to take some time to get used to but just like Duck's personality, she had managed…as best as she could. She tapped the stack of letters on the palm of her hand and considered whether she ought to look at them now or after taking her nap. Later seemed like a better option. She threw the letters on the table, but as she looked at them the letters didn't fall onto the table.
A gasp escaped from her beak when she noticed what was happening. Those letters were…levitating. As she walked over to the letters, she took a hold of them and they felt normal. Had she dreamt that whole thing? She then threw the letters in the air and looked up at them. Many of the letters fluttered to the ground expect for one who was floating above her head.
Rent due were the letters stamped onto it but that wasn't her concern. How was she able to do all of this? What was happening?
