Canard….Canard-CANARD-
His eyes snapped open; for a moment he didn't know where he was, then gradually he recognized the sparse furniture and his weapons laying on the dresser. He was in Wildwing's apartment. Stumbling to his feet, he made it to the toilet in time to puke. Shaking from nerves, he sank to his knees.
…..
"I don't want to go to school," Asher complained for the third time.
"And I didn't want to get up this morning, seems like we both have something to bitch about," Drebeer stopped short of the gate, staring at the school.
Asher watched concerned as the black duck groaned softly. "What's wrong?"
Drebeer's grey eyes steeled over, "get to school."
…
Regla let himself into Mallory's home, which was still under construction. Everyone else was already there, glancing up as he entered the kitchen.
"I have surveillance running on Mox. He's left the Durm District and is now in Mordri."
"Mordri?" Nosedive echoed, "that's not even a mile down the road from here."
"I know," Regla murmured.
"So what are we doing?" Drebeer asked. "We need to figure it out soon, like today."
"Take out Mox and in the process Patterrn and Flyght," Ches was quiet, quickly shying from Grin's glance his way. "I'm not suggesting it for the regaining of my leadership over the Brotherhood but life is going to get real complicated if they aren't gotten rid of."
Wildwing snorted, "like it isn't already?"
"Tell me about it," Ches growled.
They fell silent, no one knowing what to say. Then Canard spoke up, his tone slightly ragged from loss of sleep. "I have an idea but you may not like it."
….
A loud snap jerked Fledge out of his nap on the desk. Bolting upright, he focused on Dr. Draeck who stared down his bill at him. "Sleeping again Patel?"
"Sorry," he mumbled.
His teacher didn't look so amused as he strutted away. As class let out Asher was waiting by the door. "Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"Home, everyone's there. I want to know what they are talking about."
….
"Mordri has three entrances, we split up and seal off each exit. Mordri is abandoned so we don't have to worry about casualties. Then we level it."
Everyone stared at Canard, "level it?" Tanya finally asked.
"Isn't that what happened the last time? And according to Duke, Mox is a twisted version of Halloween's scarecrow," Nosedive let his chair hit all four legs with a bang.
Both Regla and Ches narrowed their eyes, confused. "Halloween scarecrow?"
Nosedive dismissed their question.
"This time we kill him," Canard insisted.
"You are talking about murder," Ches murmured.
"Yes," Canard replied. "He'd be just as bad, He'd kill any of us in an instant, He almost did with Regla."
"So we lower our morality to his?"
Canard scoffed, "you're the Brotherhood leader for drake's sake, mayhem and blood is a code of your life."
Ches straightened abruptly. "It hasn't been a code in my Brotherhood for a long time Thunderbeak. Boron and Cerberus are radicals I missed."
"Ches," Mallory cut in, trying to break up their argument. "Ches-DAD." The word felt awkward in her mouth as she formed it.
His crystalline eyes left Canard's slowly and focused on hers before sitting back, stewing. Canard took a breath.
"Look, if we send him to prison, he'll get out. Someone like Mox isn't going to reform permanently, if anything, he'll fake it."
"I'll do it," Drebeer offered.
"No," Duke interjected. "You're still we-"
"Asher-" Drebeer warned. "Don't you dare finish what you were about to say…"
Duke was smart enough to see the murderous gleam in his brother's eyes. He may get away with goading Drebeer more than other ducks, but he knew when to not push his brother's buttons.
…..
Outside, Asher got as close to the window as he dared. Next to him, Fledge squirmed, uncomfortable. "They're gonna get mad at us."
"So?" Asher hissed fiercely. "What are you, scared?"
"No," Fledge snapped, "I just…" He fell silent.
"What?" Asher prodded.
Ashamed, Fledge muttered, "nothing." Asher waited, knowing Fledge would eventually tell him.
Fledge took a breath and released it, "I like…your parents Asher. I feel like I'm disobeying and sneaking around my parents."
"Blame it on me," Asher gave a slight smile.
Above them, in the kitchen they heard a chair slide back and soft footfalls coming towards them. It hit Asher who was walking towards them.
"Shit," he squeaked, grabbing Fledge and tumbling down into one of the large bushes outside the window.
…..
Inside, Drebeer looked up from pouring a glass of water to see one of the bushes rustle outside the window. Quietly he set the pitcher down and drew silently to the window.
…
Below him, Asher and Fledge were plastered together, up against the siding of the house, barely breathing. After what seemed like forever, Drebeer's shadow disappeared and Asher breathed a sigh of relief.
"I think I just crapped myself," Fledge was shaking.
"Is that what that smell is?" Asher gave a nervous laugh.
"It's not funny," Despite himself, Fledge smiled too only to let out a squeal when a strong hand clamped on his arm and hauled him up through the window.
"Where's your partner-in-crime?" Drebeer demanded.
"What p-p-partner?"
"You know who, don't play with me Fledge."
"I don't know," he squeaked.
"Drebeer, let him go," Mallory pulled the kid out of his grasp.
"Why were you lurking outside the window?" Drebeer wouldn't let his attention deviate.
"Lurking?" Fledge echoed, indifferent. "I wasn't lurking."
"Arren, cool it," Duke pulled Fledge to Drebeer's empty seat. Just as he sat down, Asher appeared from the kitchen entrance behind Regla.
"How convenient," Drebeer grumbled.
Asher deliberately ignored Drebeer and his existence, sitting next to his mother and mulling over what he had heard.