Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“I’m headin’ out…” Bugs heard his roommate say while coming down the stairs, sounding more cautious than usual. The rabbit didn’t put down his newspaper and replied casually,

“Where? We weren’t supposed to be doing anythin’ today.”

“Meetin’ up with old friends…” He answered quietly, making Bugs lower his newspaper at that. He arched a brow to look at the duck from the couch he laid on,

“Daffy, you don’t have any ‘old friends’.” As far as Bugs knew. Daffy never mentioned any friends besides the ones he had in college, and even then it didn’t seem like he had been in good terms with any of them.

“Oh, did I say friends?” Daffy asked monotonously, strolling around as if looking for something, “I meant folks…”

It was like a bombshell had collided on top of Bugs’ head. His eyes widened, taking a good look at his roommate. He couldn’t tell if Daffy was lying again or decided to mess with him by dropping the statement out like that. Bugs watched the duck who was still nonchalantly pacing back and forth, like he hadn’t just brought up questions within questions with that simple sentence.

Finally, Bugs picked up the jumbled words within his mind in order to ask, “You have parents…?”

“Duh,” Daffy shrugged while looking into a drawer, “Everyone has parents.”

“No, I mean… you still have your parents…?” Bugs asked, his cool demeanor fazing, “They’re still out there?”

“Yes…?” Daffy gave him a look like he was crazy, “I never said they weren’t…”

“You never said anything about them.” Bugs stated matter-of-factly, still finding it hard to believe, “Are you visiting them today?”

“It’s more of a ‘returning something I borrowed’ visit.” As he said that, Bugs noticed the way Daffy touched his neck, which made him even more confused.

“What exactly…?” He asked.

“You’re asking too many questions here, pal,” Daffy frowned at him.

Bugs got up from the couch to stand across his roommate, “Well, I have the right to. We’ve been living together for five years and I just find out that you have other family members besides your uncle?! It’s natural that I have so many questions! I mean, why don’t you visit them more often? It’s an amazing opportunity to revisit your childhood and such, don’t you think?”

“Look,” Daffy slammed the drawer back in, closing his eyes, “What you’re talking about is not what I have, so if you’re gonna keep bashing me for not contacting them more often, then you might as well sit back on the couch and continue reading whatever you were reading.”

Although Daffy was surprisingly calm saying that, the statement didn’t fail to send a chill down the hare’s spine, “Woah, I’m- I’m sorry…” He stared at Daffy for a bit, who refused to look back at him, a frown never leaving his face, “Are you okay? You seem a little… stressed…”

“I’m not.” Daffy said, which really felt like he was telling that to himself rather than Bugs, “Found it.” He whispered, holding some car keys. He began to head for the door, kind of slowly, and Bugs blinked.

“You’re going with my car?” He wasn’t upset, only curious.

Daffy stopped in his tracks as if he’d been caught, closed in a fist then opened it, like he was having a mental debate, and finally turned around, “Yes, I’m- I’m gonna give it back, promise. Sorry- should’ve told you…”

Sorry?! Bugs’ mind screamed. Something was very wrong here.

He stood there, dumbfounded, “Dude, seriously, are you okay…?”

Daffy sighed, turning around, “Don’t worry too much. I’ll just get this over with…” He then proceeded to walk incredibly slowly towards the door.

Bugs got the message.

“Do youuu… want me to come with?” He offered.

“Really?!” Daffy turned around with a big smile, and Bugs just sighed. He could’ve just told him.

“Yes, really.”

“Oh, thank Goodness.” Daffy sighed in relief, “Thought I’d have to crawl to the door in order for you to get it…”

Bugs rolled his eyes. He’d never know what goes on in this guy’s head.

TLTS

A long silent ride later,

“Soooo am I allowed to ask what you’re returning, exactly…?” Bugs asked, glancing at his roommate from the passenger’s seat.

“Nope.” Daffy said neutrally.

“Oookay… then what about: How your parents are like?”

“Nu-uh.”

“Umm… then: what kind of relationship do you and your parents have?”

Daffy turned to him with an offended expression, “Really?!”

“What?”

“Out of all the questions, this is seriously the worst! Should’ve went with that second one!”

“Then answer the second one!” Bugs exclaimed.

“No!”

“Come on.” Bugs folded his arms, “If I’m gonna meet them, I gotta know the least bit of information, you know?”

Daffy was silent for a minute, watching the road, and then a small frown crossed his face, “Okay fine…” He sighed, “For starters, my parents are not easy to deal with…”

“I can really get that impression…” Bugs pointed out quietly.

Daffy decided to ignore that, “They’re those ones who expect their child to be perfect in every way…”

Bugs perked at that, “Really?” He suddenly found himself sulking, “And… you didn’t meet their expectations, did you?”

Daffy’s eyes drooped while watching the road, “Let’s just say that I wasn’t the ideal child they hoped I’d be…”

Bugs didn’t know what to say, and only stared at his companion sorrowfully. This was hard to listen to.

“And that’s it! That’s all you need to know!” Daffy said quickly, and pulled over, “We’re here.”

Bugs turned to the window, to find them parked beside an average-sized house that was all grey and kind of dirty. The paint was visibly worn off and the lawn around didn’t seem all that green. But overall it was okay. At least it wasn’t a Yosemite Sam life style.

The sound of the seatbelt unbuckling made Bugs turn to the duck again, and before saying anything, Daffy beat him to the punch, “You stay here while I do what I have to do. Don’t follow me.” He pointed at him while ordering.

“What?! Then why did you want me to come?!” Bugs asked loudly.

Daffy touched the door handle while staring at him, like he was thinking about it, “Moral support.” He seemed to settle on that and then got out of the car. Bugs watched in disbelief as the duck headed near the house.

“Moral suppor- What is this guy on about!?” He exclaimed before opening the door furiously and getting out. Deciding to postpone alerting Daffy about his presence for now, Bugs watched with his eyes narrowed as his friend didn’t go for the front door, but rather for the back, disappearing in the process. The rabbit followed to the side of the building, and was surprised when he found a tall wooden fence with a lock there, preventing him from accessing the backyard.

Daffy wasn’t stuck here, though, which meant that he had already entered with the keys. He looked for any loopholes, found none, tried pushing the fence, nothing, and then finally decided to jump, didn’t work. He sighed in frustration.

“Guess I've got no other option…” He braced himself, kneeled down, and dug the lawn. Just a tiny tunnel and then poked his head out, finding himself on the other side like he’d planned. In relief of not being spotted, he got out of the hole and began searching everywhere, trying to find his friend.

He paused when he did, and didn’t like what he found. Daffy was in front of the door, staring at it like it was a haunting monster. His facial expression wasn’t fitting the situation in the slightest, either. He had a look of fear and hesitation, and honestly looked like a frightened child.

Bugs stood there, a few feet away hiding by the side of the building, not knowing what to do or say. Daffy didn’t look like he wanted to ring the bell at all, doubt clear in his eyes like he was regretting all the decisions he’d made up to this point. It made Bugs’ chest ache in a way.

He decided to make a move, and took a step in order to reach his friend. Once his leg made a ruffle against the lawn, however, Daffy turned instantly to the sound with a small yelp and a jump. Bugs stopped, eying his roommate who looked like he’d just had a heart attack.

“Bugs?!” He yelled, and then turned to the door in panic. Bugs didn’t get the chance to say anything before Daffy rushed towards him, grabbed both of his shoulders and pushed him back to where the fence was,

“What are you doing here?!” He whispered harshly, anger clear on his face.

“You don’t just expect me to stay in the car!” He hissed back, “You’re not doing this alone!”

“Yes I- Ugh…” He held the bridge of his beak, exasperated. It was like the roles had reversed. Daffy was actually fed up with him for once, “Just stay here, and don’t make a sound. Please.” He placed both hands on Bugs’ shoulders, eyes pleading, “Is that clear?”

Bugs frowned stubbornly, tilting his head to look at the lawn. He couldn’t exactly bring himself to promise that, “I’ll try.” He eyed his roommate.

Daffy also frowned, clearly not satisfied with that answer, but didn’t object anyway. He just patted Bugs’ shoulder and went back to the door. Bugs couldn’t see him from where he stood, honestly feeling as though it was better that way in order to be able to fulfil his friend’s request. Otherwise, just the look on Daffy’s face from watching the door would cause Bugs to jump in there, grab his friend and just get the heck out of here. Didn’t matter what kind of thing he needed to return. This was so wrong and off-putting.

The sound of the doorbell caught his sensitive ears, and he stayed where he was, listening. Tension filled the area in those few seconds everything was silent in. A pin falling could be heard a mile away. Bugs’ ears suddenly turned when he detected sounds of footsteps from inside the house, and finally the door opening.

It was still silent, something that baffled the bunny. Nothing was said for a few seconds. Bugs was very curious on what might be happening out there, but remained still anyways. He could picture Daffy and his parents just staring intimidatingly at each other for a moment. Things were seriously on edge, judging by the rhythm of breaths his ears discerned.

“Hey, dad. Hey, Helen.” Daffy finally started in a small voice, making Bugs’ brows furrow because… Helen who? Was she like, the mother? Why wouldn’t Daffy just call her mom?

“Oh, will you look at that?” A feminine voice– Helen, Bugs presumed, expressed annoyingly with a rough tone, “Look who finally came crawling back! Enjoyed those eight years of loneliness? Huh?!”

Bugs’ face shifted to one of disturbance, because– were these seriously the best first words they could offer? She hadn’t seen her son for eight years, and this was what she had to say? And, what did she exactly mean by ‘eight years of loneliness’? Did she not know anything about Daffy living with him? Had they ever actually tried reaching their son at all?

“Now easy, honey…” A deep voice said with a tone Bugs didn’t like. An almost enraged one, with the rage not directed at the wife, “The little twerp came back for a reason, didn’t he?! It better be! Where are my pearls?! WHERE ARE THEY?! BRING BACK WHAT YOU FUCKING STOLE!”

Bugs stumbled at the loud screech, a ton of alarm bells ringing in his ears. He shook where he stood, heart pounding against his chest. That was a serious jump scare.

He couldn’t help but have the urge to see what Daffy’s face was like right now. Were things at the household always like this? Was he used to something like this? And what the heck was Mr. Duck talking about?! Did Daffy really steal from him or was he just exaggerating? And- pearls? What?

Daffy didn’t reply, making Bugs’ face fall. Daffy always had something to say, regardless of the situation. This was just saddening.

“Never grew out of your muteness, I see…” Helen said in a disappointed voice.

“And you still look so much like your grandmother!” The dad said in blind rage, one that Bugs seriously couldn’t comprehend. It was like Mr. Duck was always angry. The desire to grab Daffy out of there was growing each second.

“Didn’t I tell you to get a makeover or else I wouldn’t wanna see your face again?!” The man continued, “DIDN’T I?!”

Daffy was as silent as a grave. It was unnerving. Bugs’ fist was shaking.

“SAY SOMETHING!”

A slap. That was all Bugs heard before he lost it. He stomped out of his hiding place, to the bright sun, growling lowly like a wild animal,

“HEY!” He shouted, alerting the duo who seemed beyond confused as to why there was a random stranger in their backyard. Daffy was the only one who didn’t turn to him. In fact, his whole face was hidden away from Bugs. The rabbit could spot his friend’s hand touching his cheek as soon as he put himself between Daffy and his parents.

The couple’s appearance was what caught Bugs’ eyes first. Mr. Duck looked so much like Daffy, aside from his figure being a whole lot bigger, having white hair, and having two blue streaks on each arm. He reminded him a lot of Lola’s dad with his bulky figure, except that he looked a lot meaner than Walter. He was wearing a dirty tank top, his hair a mess.

Helen was a brown-feathered duck with short dark-brown hair and bright yellow beak. She wore a lime robe and had a cigarette between her fingers. She seemed laid-back and chill, like Tina, but ten-times more hotheaded than her. Like the woman who’d kill you in an instant. The two were honestly scary, but Bugs was in so much anger that he seriously did not care.

“Who the heck are you?!” The dad shouted while pointing, ready to fight, and before Bugs could let out every curse word he’d ever known, Daffy muttered,

“He’s a friend.”

The statement was so quiet that it didn’t even sound like Daffy’s voice. Bugs looked back at the duck, who was staring down at the ground, hand clutching on an arm, as still as a rock. And his eyes-

Oh, man, his eyes…

They were glazed over, grey, icy, like the ones that belonged to a dead person. Daffy didn’t look like himself at all.

Just- how dare they?!

The dad and Helen suddenly jumped, eyes widening after Daffy’s declaration. They exchanged looks and then fixated on Bugs, with Helen’s hand covering her mouth,

“A guest?” They both said in disbelief, tone off.

“Oh, haha! What a delight!” Mr. Duck laughed all of a sudden, grabbing Daffy like a ragdoll to stand next to him, and put a hand around his back.

“H-Huh?” Bugs raised a brow, taken off guard.

“Ah, excuse our appearance! Someone didn’t tell us that a guest was coming.” He smacked Daffy’s back rather roughly at the stressed word, causing the duck to wince and trip but do nothing more.

“Come in, come in.” Helen urged, getting in herself.

Bugs frowned, staring at his roommate, whose eyes never left the ground, whose hand never left his arm. He was like a prey in his predator’s clutch, and it aggravated the bunny to no end.

This was wrong. This was wrong. This was all wrong.

And he was gonna get to the bottom of this.

Chapter Text

“Now tell us, how did you two meet?”

They were all at the dining table, empty plates in front of them ready to be filled. Mr. Duck and Helen had quickly changed: Mr. Duck in a shirt and Helen in casual clothing, and in super speed had seemed to shift 180 degrees, in both personality and attire. The cigarette that Helen had been clearly attached to two minutes earlier was now gone, and Mr. Duck’s face had softened to a friendlier and more welcoming look. His hair wasn’t a mess anymore, either.

Bugs observed his friend who was across from him, beside his dad. Something that irked the bunny a lot. The thought of Mr. Duck hurting Daffy again since he was so close was a big no-no to him, and instead of answering Helen’s question, he chose to address his roommate,

“Hey, Daffy. Why don’t you come sit beside me?”

Daffy side-eyed him with a frown, sending a small shake to him like telling him to cut-it-out, but making sure to not make it too noticeable. Bugs frowned at that.

“Daffy, don’t be rude.” Helen was the one who said with gritted teeth, and Daffy just closed his eyes while sighing. He took his plate and sat beside Bugs, unknowingly making him feel a lot better now.

“I’m sorry, you gotta excuse him. He isn’t much of a talker…” Helen stated factually.

“He isn’t, huh?” Bugs turned to the duck, who appeared to be poking at his empty plate with a fork, intentionally ignoring the conversation, Bugs knew. Those two still had no idea that they lived together, and Bugs actually intended to keep it that way for a while. He was interested in what he might hear.

“Yeah…” Helen giggled, “Even though his teachers always told us that he was a loudmouth, I know they were just trying to make him look bad. No one knows Daffy better than I do…” She genuinely said it, and Bugs tried so hard to suppress a scoff.

“So, Bugs,” Mr. Duck started with a warm tone before Bugs could reply to Helen, “Tell us more about yourself. What kind of friendship do you and my son have? Are you working together in the same place?”

Well, so much for keeping the fact that they live together a secret, “No, we-”

“Oh, I see a nice car outside.” Helen suddenly said, glancing at a window, “Is it yours?”

Bugs frowned ever so slightly. Those people weren’t letting him talk. And more so, he couldn’t stand the fakeness radiating from them. It was like they hadn’t slapped their son less than 15 minutes ago. And all they did was act like they knew everything when they barely knew anything at all.

Well, now he knew where Daffy got his lying habits from.

With that thought on hold, he supposed he could lie about his position a little in return. After all, if he could do it to Tina’s father so easily, this would be a piece of cake in comparison,

“He owns the car, I own the house,” He leaned in a little, appearing smug intentionally, “We’re roommates.”

“You’re… living together?” The dad asked, baffled all of a sudden.

“Yes… we are…” Bugs said, knowing exactly how on edge he sounded.

“My, good luck with that…” Helen snorted mockingly, “Daffy was so much trouble when he was younger.”

Bugs turned to her with an eye ridge, “You said he rarely talked.”

“And he did.” She had a smile, “That doesn’t mean he couldn’t still be trouble. He would always sneak outside to visit his grandma. Sometimes in the middle of the night when it wasn’t allowed. Always having us worried to death. Isn’t that right, Daf?” She turned to said duck with a sly smirk, as if she was waiting for him to act a certain way.

Bugs really doubted that they cared even a little bit, because things as such shouldn’t be spoken about lightly like that. A child running from home to seek another family member should send a ton of red flags to these parents, but they just seemed as proud as ever.

Daffy just shrugged, still playing with his forking.

“Hey, you’re supposed to look at your mother when she’s talking to you.” Mr. Duck said, doing a terrible job at containing his angry nature.

Daffy, as a result, looked petrified for a second, and then angry, and then sent the look directly to his father. Bugs frowned, too, watching the two of them convey a million words to each other silently– none of them friendly in any way.

Bugs wasn’t sure what was going on at the moment, but had a feeling that Mr. Duck had crossed a line in some way. Looking back at Helen, Bugs caught her rolling her eyes just before she noticed him and stopped with a painfully fake smile. Bugs sucked in a breath, doing all he can in order to not explode. This was getting on his nerves.

“I-” Daffy started, angry, making Bugs turn back to him to see the gritted teeth the duck had snapped, but it all shifted afterwards when he deflated, sighing lowly, “Yes, sorry Helen…” Bugs noticed the way Daffy couldn’t make eye-contact with Helen for more than two seconds.

“Yeah, that’s more like it.” Mr. Duck said loudly and proudly, smiling at his son. Daffy, in return, didn’t make any reaction, continuing to poke at his plate. Something that must’ve annoyed Mr. Duck, since Bugs saw a frown cross his face rather quickly.

Bugs really wanted to pat Daffy’s shoulder right now, to give any kind of reassurance, but with those four eyes piercing their very form, Bugs knew they would find the gesture odd, and even remark on it, which would be the last straw before Bugs could make a commotion.

He hated what he got himself into. The tense silence, the awkward atmosphere, it was all so unbearable. Yet at the same time, he was glad he was here. The possibility of Daffy going through this alone left a very bad taste in his mouth. And worse, Daffy secretly coming here without telling him and returning without Bugs having a clue on where he’d been…

Now thinking about it, Bugs was only here because Daffy made sure he would be. He could’ve easily snuck out and came back without Bugs ever knowing or caring, but he chose to get him to tag along and see all this; for reasons Bugs couldn’t understand. But… Wait-

Daffy didn’t even want Bugs to follow him inside.

Maybe it was partially Bugs’ fault that they were in this situation to begin with. Hadn’t he interfered, he doubted that Mr. Duck and Helen would have ever let Daffy inside and made him dinner. Daffy would’ve just given them what they wanted and left…

Shoot.

“We have a way around the house,” Helen addressed the hare with a proud tone, snapping him out of his thoughts, “No yelling at each other, no insults or arguments. Peace and calm is what makes a family happy.”

Or boring… Bugs thought while attempting to restrain himself from rolling his eyes. The hypocrisy…

They were just yelling at their son at the door, even when he didn’t do something remotely close to talking back.

“Yeah, until someone misbehaves…” Mr. Duck said it as a joke, making Helen laugh along with him. Bugs had an incredibly confused face at all this.

“Now- Now don’t get us wrong, Bugs,” Helen said between snickers, “We are proud of Daffy for finally having a job and having a car and all that. I certainly was sure that he was going to come back here after a year or so. But seeing that he has an actual place to stay in is really something.” Her laughing died down, “I’m just worried that he might be too much of a trouble for you. If he ever does anything that bothers you… like, say, he was late to pay rent in a certain month or something of that sort, tell us. We’ll pay you back. Maybe give ‘im a word about it.”

Ohohooooo

“No thanks, ma’am. He’s good.” If Bugs just spilled all of the things that Daffy had and hadn’t done in the past five years, those two might butcher Daffy in front of him. And- who the fuck says that to a friend of their fully grown son? They were treating him like an irresponsible child…

Which… in many ways Daffy could be classified as, but they were handling this in the worst way ever. It was annoying to see how insignificant Daffy was to them. A parent should know when and how to deal with their children, and always treat them with respect no matter the given situation. Those two assuring him that they would scold Daffy if he ‘misbehaved’ was embarrassing…

Eight years that they knew nothing of, and yet they treat Daffy the way they’d always done. They hadn’t even asked Daffy about what he’d gone through until now; they’d just assumed that he was the same and that he would act the same…

Which, sadly, was exactly what was happening.

“Oh, don’t be shy, pal,” Mr. Duck said, “We know Daffy, he can be unbearable at times. Just say the word and he won’t bother you. He’ll pay rent on time, buy his own food. You wouldn’t even need to worry about it.”

It actually sounded like a great offer, except it was coming from them, parents of the century, “Oh no I promise he’s no trouble. He does all that and more. Sometimes even cleans the house on his own.”

The duo’s eyes widened at the lie and exchanged looks. Then full on cackled.

Bugs blinked at the reaction.

“HAHA! DAFFY?” Mr. Duck wailed, banging on the table, “Who’re you kidding, man?!”

Helen brushed her hand on her husband’s shoulder while laughing, trying to breathe, “Remember- Remember that time Daffy burned our house down in attempt to do a simple science project?”

“O-Or that time he returned home covered in mashed potatoes from school lunch?! He got it all on the floor!”

“What the…?” Bugs looked back and forth at the chortling duo, failing to understand what was so funny.

“Or that time he entered a singing competition!” Helen was basically screaming while talking, “Even- even though everyone knew he would be terrible, but he didn’t! His face after the competition ended-!”

“Now-Now that I remember- He was so ugly!”

“GAAAH HIS TEETH! I remember!”

Bugs sat shocked, eyes filled with disbelief and fury that those two failed to notice. He slowly turned to the silent duck, to find his forehead set on the table, fist noticeably shaking and teeth clearly snapping.

“Daffy?! ‘Cleaning the house’!? As if!” Helen said right to Bugs’ face with a wide grin.

“He’s more of his uncle than he is of me! Start and end the same way! That guy would never change!”

Bugs’ eyes widened right before the table rocked. He watched Daffy push the table and rush to the stairs that were at the living room, knowing exactly where to head. Bugs pushed the table too, anger consuming him from the inside out.

“Daffy!” He called in concern, rushing behind his friend and about to run upstairs, before Helen’s voice interrupted.

“Hey! Get back here!” Helen was suddenly beside Bugs, hands on her hips and flat foot tapping, “I’m so sorry…” She turned to Bugs with a fake disappointed expression, then continued yelling atop, “If that’s your answer, then-!”

“Wait, ma’am. I’ll handle him.” Bugs said as calmly as possible, grabbing her before she could take the stairs.

“What?!” She shouted in an offended tone, making Bugs retract a little, “I’m his mother! I know what he needs!” She began taking the stairs again, and this time, Bugs hopped in front of her to stop her,

“And I’m his friend! I know how to deal with him. Leave him to me.”

“What, you think three months of living with Daffy would magically make you his best friend?! He never even wanted friends!”

Bugs’ eye twitched, about to lose it, “Ma’am, I’ve been living with your son for five years!” He snapped with a tone that he barely managed to control, “What he needs right now is not whatever you’re about to do, so get off these stairs and leave him to me!”

Helen’s eyes immediately widened at the declaration, but reluctantly frowned and slowly backed off, their eyes locked the whole time. Bugs was aware of how aggressive he sounded, and knew how exasperated he looked. He didn’t want to pretend to be a ‘good guy’ any further. Those people needed a reality check.

They were horrible.

Yet strangely, they were right.

Daffy really… hadn’t change. And Bugs had indeed lied. He didn’t own the car, didn’t pay rent, didn’t clean the house. He was irresponsible and dependent on others. Always getting Bugs in trouble…

But the fact that they kept reminiscing bad times he had in order to prove their points was by far the worst trash they’ve ever pulled. Bugs didn’t care if they were right. They were bullying their son in front of who they considered a guest, expecting him to laugh along with them. If Daffy hadn’t changed, by the way things were like around here, then they hadn’t changed either. Might as well had become worse.

“Dinner’s almost ready.” Helen said with an edge in her voice, “Don’t take too long.”

“We won’t.” Bugs told her with furrowed brows, giving his back to her.

Reaching the second floor with a sigh, Bugs found two rooms. One with the door barely open, but not shut. Figuring this was where his friend was, he knocked first before peeking,

“Daffy, you here?”

Upon locating his roommate inside, he entered.

The room was all blue, vacant, with two boxes on the ground and a small bed. His eyebrow rose as he looked around. Was this Daffy’s room when he lived here? It looked so… empty. Almost contradicting his room in their house entirely.

“Why did you step in back then…?” Daffy said quietly, hugging himself with his back facing the door, and Bugs frowned. Was he really going there?

“Seriously?”

“It was supposed to be an in and out situation. You shouldn’t have involved yourself.” He sighed, “You shouldn’t have even come…”

“You really wanted me to watch them talk to you like that and hit you and do nothing about it? Really?!”

“My dad could’ve killed you if they didn’t consider you as a ‘guest’! Which, by the way, they hail above all else. You’re lucky.”

“I don’t care! I don’t care about any of that-”

“Well, you should!” Daffy turned around to show his tear-streaked angry eyes, “Because when I told you to stay in the car, you didn’t listen! When I told you stay hidden, you didn’t! Now… Now I’m…” He turned his face around, legs dangling from the bed, and groaning.

“Now you’re stuck in the one place you never wanted to revisit… I get that…” Bugs said somberly, ears drooping while going to sit beside his friend on the bed, “But, Daffy, seriously, what are you doing here? You need to leave this place. What they’re doing to you… I-”

Bugs stopped when Daffy silently outstretched an arm with a closed hand, and Bugs opened his own palm, for Daffy to drop something in it and take his hand back. It looked like white fabric at first, but the texture felt weird. Upon inspection, Bugs found it to be a pearl necklace. Had Daffy stole this from somewhere?! No- He looked at the ducks’ neck, to be struck. How hadn’t he noticed before?

“Your- Your collar thingy!” He said in surprise, “You’re not wearing it today…”

Daffy simply nodded, then sighed, “My parents weren’t always like this, Bugs…”

Bugs’ expression flattened, “This what? Horrible?”

“No, they were always horrible,” Daffy said nonchalantly, “I meant… aggressive…?” He shrugged unsurely, “My dad rarely hit me so suddenly before… Most of the time I expect it, this time I didn’t…”

Bugs stayed silent, but knew his feature fell into a sorrowful expression.

“Heh, or maybe it’s just because I haven’t seen him in so long…” Daffy chuckled half-heartedly, though Bugs didn’t find amusement in his words in any way. The duck’s eyes averted, “I know why he’s angry, though… I stole his pearls, after all…”

Bugs looked into his hand, finally piecing the puzzle together. What he previously thought to be a normal white collar reflected the dimmest light that hit it, “Why… now? You’ve been wearing this since forever. What suddenly happened that made you come back and return it…?”

“I wanna owe nothing to my parents… I’m tired of having them all over me…”

Having them all over me…? Something clicked in Bugs’ mind, “Have they been contacting you?”

“Yeah, my dad have. For the past week.” Daffy eyed Bugs, “Tried to ignore him the best I could, but then he mentioned a lawsuit, and I… sort of panicked.”

“What?” Bugs was taken a back, “Daffy, you’ve been in jail before. A bunch of times, in fact. Why’re you so afraid?”

“Because… I wasn’t gonna go alone.” Daffy’s eyes averted again, “He said something about that whoever was involved with me would be sentenced… And since you’re involved with me… y’know?” He sent a wince.

Bugs thought for a second, “Does he know where we live?”

Daffy paused at the question, then shook his head slowly.

“And he just found out that I exist. Daffy, you shouldn’t have come here at all…” Bugs voiced with a frown, “This is all a bluff to scare you. He knew about you stealing all this time and only now decides to file a lawsuit? This can go against him in court.”

“R-Really…?” Daffy asked, lost.

“Yes, really!” Bugs shook a fist, getting up to pace back and forth, “What are you doing here?! You’re tormenting yourself- for what?! A lawsuit?! Me?! Dammit- Even if there was prison involved, I don’t mind! I like being in jail, Daffy!”

Daffy’s eyes widened slightly, taking in all of what he said. Bugs was truly angry. Angry at the man for manipulating his friend like this, and angry at Daffy for putting himself at stake just because of a dumb possibility of being jailed. Of Bugs being jailed. This was ridiculous.

Bugs stared at the necklace in his hand again, calming him down a little. He sat beside his friends once more, who’d slumped over while holding his head,

“Look, I may not know everything that’s going on in the family… but I know what this is…” He opened his palm to the duck, who feebly turned to it, “You’re not wearing it for medical reasons, no, it’s much more than that. This is who you are. Without it, you feel lost. And if you give it back… you wouldn’t know what do anymore.”

“Heh,” Daffy gave a soft chuckle, straightening, “Trust me, it would take more than a necklace to define who I am, Bugs.”

“No, I’m serious,” Bugs frowned, “You don’t have to give it back, because for eight years now it’s been yours. You need to stand up to your parents and tell that to them.”

Daffy perked at that, staring at him with a surprised face, then averting his eyes, “I… can’t…”

Bugs deflated, eyes softening, “It’s hard, isn’t it?”

“Not only that… I physically can’t…” He told him, “Every time I wanna say something to them… I freeze… and just… tear up-”

“Boys, dinner’s ready!” Helen’s voice reached them.

“You gotta try.” Bugs turned to him, hand around his shoulder, “Doesn’t matter what they’ll think of you, because to them, you’re never good enough no matter what you do. Just make that come in full circle.” He placed the pearl collar on the duck’s hand, who stared at it thoughtfully. Daffy then sighed through his nose, eyes closed, fist clenching with the necklace in hold,

“I’ll try…” He said, albeit forcefully, though Bugs didn’t object anyway. He just smiled while squeezing his companion’s shoulder as reassurance,

“Good. And I’ll be there with you-”

“BOYS!” Helen called louder.

“YES, MRS. DUCK!” Bugs replied, standing up. Daffy stood up with him, and together they exited the room.

TLTS

The rest of the dinner sitting was eerily silent.

It was clear that Helen had informed Mr. Duck about the little incident at the staircase, because now things seemed a little on edge between the two parties. He could easily follow their line of thinking right now…

Bugs was supposed to be the nice respectful guest who went along with everything they said, but now that he’d stood up for his friend and openly opposed to their views and ideas, he must be horrible.

Maybe even a bad influence.

It might also be the reveal of the fact that Bugs had been living with Daffy for half a decade what was freaking them out at the moment. Now they couldn’t say anything that was altered before taking into account that Bugs may had already known the info. They didn’t know how much he knew, and any mishap could cause them to look like absolutely shitty narcissists…

As a matter of cosmic sense, however, they already were to him…

“Daffy, after dinner, we need to talk. Privately.” Mr. Duck cut the tense silence with that sentence, and it annoyed the hare to no extent. Out of all the things he could say, he decided to say it to the person who was purposefully refusing to speak right now. And said duck wasn’t having a good time upon hearing that.

Daffy clenched his hand on his feathers really tightly, and sent yet another look at his dad, this time a pleading one. It was clear how many times this statement had been said during his early youth, and Lord only knew what kind of horrible outcomes came from that statement. There was no telling what the man was thinking. Was he going to hit Daffy again? Was he finally going to bring up the necklace situation? Either way, Bugs couldn’t have this.

If he was a ‘bad guest’ now, then he might as well act like one.

“Why, that, Mr. Duck?” Bugs asked, attempting to sound smug. The man turned to him with a surprised expression, not expecting him to comment at all, “Just share whatever you want on the table! No need to be secretive!”

“Bugs!” Daffy hissed at him with his teeth gritted, and the rabbit pretended to ignore that.

“He wants to talk to his son alone.” Helen said with a strained tone, “What, you have something against that?”

“Not particularly, Mrs. Duck…” He raised his hands defensively, absorbed in the act, “I’m just curious. If Daffy isn’t all talk-y, then the conversation’s gonna be pret-ty  one sided, don’t you think?”

“Stop that!” Daffy whispered again, this time kicking him in the ankle, but it didn’t really hurt that much.

“What are you implying, exactly?” Mr. Duck said lowly, “What I do with my son is my business.”

“Well, sir, I gotta assure you that in the five years I’ve spent living with Daffy, I learned to understand him without him feeling the need to give any words. It’s almost psychic. So, I might be a bit of help, if I say so myself…”

Oh, one of his favorite things to do; encapsulating his targets with an unexpected twist and watching the look on their faces as it slowly shifts to one of confusion. He could tell the two in front of him were not sure if he was joking or not, and he tried pretty hard not to laugh.

“What is this, some kind of joke?!” Mr. Duck questioned, his angry side showing, “I don’t know what kind of bluff you’re making up, but if I wanna talk to my son privately, I will. I don’t need anyone to ‘translate’ what he’s thinking to me. I don’t even need him to talk back.”

Bugs rolled his eyes, “Oof, that sounds fair…” He muttered loudly enough for them to hear.

“What was that?!” Mr. Duck seemed to slowly go insane.

“I mean, you don’t want him to talk back?” Bugs asked genuinely, shrugging, “There is a difference between here and school, you know? And Daffy isn’t a kid anymore.” He paused fakely, “You… do realize that, right? That Daffy isn’t a kid anymore…” He shot a glare.

“Bugs I swear-” He could hear Daffy’s pounding chest from where he sat, but he seriously needed to know how these two would react. He wasn’t gonna back off now.

“He said,” Helen said slowly, dangerously, “He doesn’t need him to talk back. As in that particular conversation they’re gonna have. Drop this now, Bugs…”

No. No he wasn’t gonna, “I’m sorry, ma’am, with all due respect; a person has the right to speak at all times. No matter the situation. So I once again suggest being there with Daffy-”

“NO!” Mr. Duck slammed the table, “I WANNA TALK TO HIM PRIVATELY, SO I WILL. THAT’S IT. End of discussion! I don’t wanna hear any more about it!!”

The room was silent for a few minutes, with Bugs sensing emotional distress from everyone, yet he wasn’t all that surprised at all. In fact, he kind of expected that outcome.

“Gee…” Bugs muttered, this time to himself. He needed to come up with something else. No way was he going to let the man take Daffy out of his sight. He needed to be there with him because if he wasn’t, Daffy might just break-

A tap on his shoulder caused him to snap out of his racing mind, and he turned to see Daffy frowning at him while shaking his head slightly. Bugs took it as either a ‘never do that again’ or ‘whatever’s on your mind right now is a bad idea’, but he stubbornly sent a frown back, shaking his head no too. Regardless of what Daffy meant, neither options were going to make him give up. He wasn’t gonna let his friend go through that alone.

Daffy’s response was giving an exasperated huff then munching down on his food aggressively. Bugs’ attention turned back to the couple after staring at his friend for a while, and saw that both of them had already finished their food, now getting up from the table. The hare’s eyebrow rose.

“Come on, Daffy,” Mr. Duck said under his breath, making said duck stop munching on his food and look up at his father flatly.

“Can’t this wait till he at least finishes his food?” Bugs asked, noticing how Helen silently took their plates and headed to the kitchen.

The man shot a glare at Bugs, and decided to growl lowly before stomping to the kitchen. Bugs sighed after the man was gone, perking a little when he realized that he wasn’t the only one who had…

He faced his roommate to see that he had relaxed slightly after that long tense dinner. Bugs was noticing how this all was starting to wear Daffy out…

“Daffy, we gotta do something about that talk.” Bugs whispered, constantly glancing at the kitchen, “I need to be there, at the very least close.”

“And what do you have in mind? Do you really think dad’s gonna simply let you tag along? You saw what he did when he didn’t like what you said.” Daffy whispered back.

Bugs thought for a second, “Well, any idea on what he’s gonna talk with you about?”

Daffy stood silent for a bit, “Pretty sure he’s gonna tell me to give him the necklace back. And when I do, he’ll just tell us to leave… along with Helen, of course…”

“Hmm…” The hare’s eyes averted, “But… what if we leave now?” He smirked.

“Huh?”

“Think about it. The door’s right there.” He gestured to the exit in the living room, “I can say somet’n’ like ‘oh that was a great visit, thank you’ and we’ll both get out of here!”

“And what’s not to assume that they won’t track us down?” Daffy rose an eyebrow, now pearl collar in hand.

“Didn’t you say that they don’t even know where we live? What’s there to worry about?”

Daffy remained silent again, for longer this time, staring at the jewelry in his hand. He finally sighed, raising his head to look Bugs in the eye, “No.” He clutched his fingers, leaving no sight of the necklace.

“What?” Bugs asked, surprised at how Daffy stood his ground.

“No. I’m not gonna run. I’ve made my choice.” He tightened his hold on the jewelry a bit further, “I need to do this. If I don’t stand up and tell them that I’m not giving it back… I know I’m gonna regret it later.”

Bugs stared at him for a while, mesmerized by the bravery he’d got to witness from the one friend he never expected it from. He grinned afterwards, unable to express how proud he was in words,

“Alright.” With a big determined smile, he placed both hands on Daffy’s shoulder, turning him in the process, “You’re taking the lead.”

A grin from ear to ear slowly cracked his friend’s beak while his eyes sparkled in delight, “Really?”

“Yes, really! Now what’s on your mind, chief?”

Daffy sniffed while wiping a tear from his eye, “That was all I ever wanted.” Bugs chuckled. “Okay, I know what we have to do, so stay with me.”

“I’m listening,” Bugs said, returning now to controlling his volume. He hadn’t realized how loud they were being.

“There’s a big chance Dad’s gonna talk to me in the kitchen, and Helen’s gonna sit with you in the living room…”

“She’ll be watching me?” Bugs asked in concern.

“Kinda.” Daffy said, “So act cool. After a little while, ask her where the bathroom is, and she’ll lead you to the one directly next to the kitchen. You’ll be able to hear us from there.”

“Great.” That was precisely what Bugs wanted– not being left out of what was about to take place, “And you?”

“I’ll comply, until dad finally brings up the necklace situation, and I… say no…” He trailed off a little.

“I know it’s not gonna be easy, but trust me, it’s gonna be worth it…” Bugs reassured.

Daffy gave a nod, then went back on track, “If you took too long, Helen might suspect something. She once caught me spying on them that same way before, not sure if she still remembers that…”

“Got it…” Bugs nodded, noting all of this down.

“And… when I… confront dad… you might- no pressure, you know…? Come-”

Bugs completely understood, so he saved him the trouble, “I’ll come and help you out, no problem. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

Bugs didn’t miss the tears that formed in Daffy’s eyes from that declaration, or that smile that could only fill the hare with joy.

“Oh, and one more thing-” Daffy began.

“DAFFY!” Helen’s voice startled the two and in panic they both whipped their heads to find the woman standing in the dining room’s doorway, a look of disbelief in her eyes, “What is wrong with you?! You still haven’t finished eating?! Seriously?! Your father’s waiting for you!”

Both of them sighed innerly as they were afraid they had been caught, and Daffy only nodded at his mom (was she really the mom? Bugs had forgotten to ask…) before following her to the kitchen.

Bugs also didn’t miss the look Daffy gave him as he headed inside…

All it screamed was… ‘Wish me luck.’

And he did just that.

Chapter Text

Bugs stood in the bathroom, ear placed against one of the walls, attempting to listen.

It had only been a bit since Daffy had been escorted to the kitchen, and Bugs couldn’t wait for more than a minute before asking Helen where the bathroom was. He just couldn’t help it. He didn’t know what was happening and it was aggravating him.

The woman had only narrowed her eyes, then, as Daffy had said, leaded him to the bathroom just beside the kitchen. No words whatsoever. Bugs was surprised Helen hadn’t put up some sort of fight, but he was relieved nonetheless.

Now, he remained silent, since everything else was silent, and waited. Nothing was said for a few seconds, something that made matters a hundred times more tense. He could hardly detect footsteps from the other room, even with his highly sensitive ears, which wasn’t a good sign.

He chose to imagine Daffy’s father encircling him in some way, in thought. He still may not be exact, but that was the only scenario his mind could come up with.

“So, a roommate, huh?” The man finally spoke, and surprisingly, his voice was super clear.

Daffy said nothing. Of course.

“You never mentioned him before. What’s that about?” Bugs frowned, unsure of what the man exactly wanted to know. Why didn’t he just cut to the chase and demand his stolen thing, already?

“And- Oh-oh man, five years?” Mr. Duck chuckled mockingly, “Five years of living on someone else’s exertion, making use of it? You never made a man out of yourself, after all. Just like I suspected. I bet the car outside isn’t even yours.”

Bugs’ mouth hanged slightly, feeling a little dread build up in his stomach. Something was wrong-

“Why’re you holding your voice back? Helen’s not here.”

…

“I’m tired…” Bugs audibly gasped when Daffy finally replied, and leaned against the wall a little further, not like there was much space to fill to begin with.

“Of what?! You do nothing! You never did anything! You know who should be tired?! Me, the guy who spent all those years of work on a letdown like you! Who turned out to be nothing! Who fucking stole from us at the end! So, tell me again, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU TIRED OF?!”

Bugs’ heart raced, in both anxiousness and panic. He just couldn’t put his finger on why-

“N-Nothing…” Daffy’s voice came out shaky, alarming Bugs even further. At this rate, Daffy wasn’t going to be able to object his father even if he tried.

“So you were lying?! Or are you just giving the exact response you used to give me eight fucking years ago whenever I asked you something?! No need to choose wisely, because either choice is not in your favor!”

Bugs gritted his teeth. This was growing unbearable.

“Why… are you s-so mad at me?!” Daffy asked hoarsely, but at least with a little spirit.

“Really? REALLY?! You steal, you lie, you come back with the face I never wanted to see again, and then you wonder why I’m mad?!” He snorted, “Guess you really are your uncle, after all.”

What was this guy’s deal?!

“I can leave if you want.” Daffy said with steadiness, a smart move. Now Mr. Duck could ask for the necklace and they could all go home.

However, the man only laughed.

It started out small, giggles, and then slowly grew into loud, scary cackling, one that shook Bugs’ very form.

No-

This plan wasn’t going to work-

“Daffy-” He whispered in panic, eyes wide.

“You think I like having you around?! How many times should I tell you that I’m sick of you until you GET IT?!”

Bugs gasped when he heard Daffy yelp, and it sounded like he’d been pushed.

“I’m sick of seeing that face, Daffy, but I can’t let you to leave! That is the problem! You can’t leave because you owe me! Have you forgotten that or WHAT!?”

Another yelp, a crash. Bugs jumped, “Daffy!” He yelled.

“Stop!” Daffy said harshly.

Everything went silent for a second… until-

“Stop…?” The man hissed, sounding insane. And Bugs had had it. That was his cue.

He ran to the door, unfastened its bolt, and turned the knob. Except the door didn’t open,

“Wha-?” He tugged on it, to find it completely locked. Dread consumed the hare as he began to slam the door, “HEY! OPEN UP!”

“Sorry, kid.” Helen’s voice came from the other side, the sound of keys rattling, “Heard you two earlier, and I’m not gonna let you through. Neither of you are leaving before we get back what belongs to us…”

“WHAT?!” Bugs kicked the door, “Mrs. Duck, open up! You can’t keep me here!”

“As a matter of fact, I can…” Helen said casually, “But don’t worry too much about it. I’m opening the door once my husband is satisfied, then you two can go back to whatever life you were livin-”

“NO! UNLOCK THE DOOR!” Bugs screamed desperately, his breathing turning into harsh gasps, “HELEN!”

“Later, bub…” Bugs couldn’t hear her anymore.

“HELEN!” He slammed at the door repeatedly, earning no response in the process. He panted with wide eyes, looking around.

“HOW DARE YOU!?” Mr. Duck’s voice echoed from where he stood, accompanied by a shriek that belonged to his roommate.

SHIT!

“DAFFY!” Bugs cried.

“After knowing how painful it is for me to see your face! After knowing how much I despise you for taking the only heritage that was left for me,” The man shouted like a wild animal, “How DARE YOU talk back to me?! YOUR FATHER?! The one who gave you a HOME, a PURPOSE?!”

A crash, and Bugs began doing the only thing he could: slamming the door with his whole body. With each strike he could hear from the kitchen his shoulder grew sorer, but that was the least of his worry.

“Was that a desperate need to make something of yourself!? Or do you just LOVE getting the shit beat out of you?! WHICH ONE IS IT?!”

Daffy yelped again.

SLAM

“TELL ME, DAFFY! TELL ME!”

A scream-

SLAM

“Where are my pearls, you thief?! Where’s MY necklace!? You think I didn’t realize that you’re hiding it?! WHERE THE FUCK IS IT!?”

SLAM

The door wasn’t budging.

Bugs was losing it.

“HAND IT OVER, NOW!”

“NO!”

Bugs stopped, wide-eyed as everything turned silent. Daffy was panting, by the sound of it crying, obviously shaking. Bugs wasn’t any better.

“The last thing, I-I’ll ever do, is listen to you again!” Daffy sobbed, then coughed. Bugs’ innards twisted. Daffy wasn’t well. He was injured.

“What was that…?” The man whispered madly.

“If you’re gonna keep hurting me, DO IT!” Daffy screamed, “This isn’t any different from what was happening years ago. But get this: this time, I’m not yielding. And this time, I’m finally getting what I want!”

“YOU’RE NOT GIVING BACK WHAT YOU STOLE?! IS THAT WHAT I’M HEARING!?”

“YES! AND IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, YOU CAN SUCK IT, OLD MAN!” Daffy screamed back, making Bugs’ face lighten. He was finally able to think clearly, and looked around… loophole, loophole, loophole…?

No loophole?

That’s it!

He kneeled down, in front of the wall that separated the kitchen from the bathroom, and dug. Just a tiny tunnel until he felt the surface again, and poked his head out.

The scene left him shocked in place.

Daffy was leaning on the kitchen counter, bleeding from several places, while the larger male stood with his fist raised, breathing ragged like an enraged bull. The two didn’t notice him until Bugs called while getting out,

“Daffy!” Bugs ran towards his roommate, surprising both ducks in the process. Mr. Duck in particular acted as if he was caught red-handed.

“Bugs…?” Daffy asked whilst losing balance, many questions apparent on his face. Bugs was by his side almost immediately, “What- What are you doing underground…?”

“Save it for later.” Was all Bugs said as he wrapped Daffy’s arm around his shoulder and supported his weight. Daffy’s leg wasn’t in the best shape at the moment, causing a bunch of ugly feelings to bubble up inside the hare. He made sure to compile it all in one glance and send it directly to the man.

Mr. Duck wasn’t all that fazed by the change of events, however, as he regained his bearing rather quickly, “Step aside, Bugs…” He growled with narrowed eyes, “This is between me and my son…” As he began approaching with a closed fist, Bugs began to step back with Daffy simultaneously. His hold on the duck didn’t slacken in the slightest, and his angry look was far from faltering.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He snarled.

Mr. Duck’s breath audibly hitched, his iris shrinking at being defied, “Don’t I remember telling you that what I do with my son is my business? You better step aside before I make you. Believe me, I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I said, I’m not going anywhere!” Bugs could see how Daffy sent a similar hateful expression at the man, “If you wanna hurt Daffy, ya have to go through me first!”

Mr. Duck’s eyebrow twitched, “Last warning…”

Bugs’ frown deepened even further, “I’m not your kid for you to order.”

“Bugs-” Daffy whispered alarmingly at him, but it was far too late to stop anyone before Bugs felt himself getting smitten on the cheek, hard. He fell to the ground with a yelp, letting go of Daffy to slide a few feet away. Daffy himself toppled over yet didn’t take time to yell,

“BUGS!”

The hare placed a hand on his cheek whilst snarling, because man did this guy’s punch hurt. He regained his senses quickly, though, and looked around to find Mr. Duck’s eyes staring at him unseeingly, audibly panting and clearly fuming. Bugs growled and was about to get on his feet, before finding the man advancing at him with a risen fist. Panicking, he attempted to get out of the man’s reach by rolling on the ground, then getting up. The fist of Mr. Duck contacted with the floor, making him growl. Bugs hurried to Daffy -who seemed to have a hard time getting up-, but before grabbing him and making a run for it, his friend’s face shifted to one of horror,

“LOOK OUT!”

With little time to turn around, the hare found himself getting a sharp blow to the head. Pain filled his senses as he scrambled to the floor just beside his roommate, miraculously still awake. Wavering, though. His vision doubled but he could still make out a wooden object in the man’s hand, probably the thing that he’d knocked him out with. Hissing, Bugs tried with all effort to push himself up, but it was apparently impossible at the moment because each shift caused and involuntary urge to vomit, signaling a much-needed time to recover. Giving a hiss and trying to breathe were the only things he was able to do at the moment, as he stared at the man with half lidded eyes while his cheek pressed against the kitchen floor, seeing him scoff while throwing the cutting-board away, and then turn to Daffy, just behind Bugs.

Daffy, in question, was panting harshly, and it was difficult to determine whether it was from fear or anger. The answer came pretty quickly, though,

“You’re a monster.” He hissed with grinding teeth by the sound of it, and Bugs saw the man approach with what appeared to be a scowl.

“I did warn him.”

“HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!” Daffy countered from behind him.

“He was in my way.” The man simply said, as if Bugs wasn’t right there, “And if you’re smart, you’ll knock off your fucking shenanigans already and give me what I want, OR ELSE YOU’RE GETTING HURT!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, you still want me to give it to you after trying to kill my friend and giving him a possibly-deadly blow in the fricking head-?! BACK OFF!”

The man took a step back with wide, unseeing eyes, his fist shaking beside him. Bugs could also sense how Daffy shifted from behind, and had a little idea on what exactly he was doing, though he guessed a weapon might currently be in his friend’s hand. By the time the movements’ sounds lessened, Bugs could finally feel his body again. Though still a bit nauseous, he groaned audibly while trying to push himself, and Daffy’s tone instantly shifted,

“Bugs!” He called in alert just as something cluttered, hand placing on his shoulder. Bugs sucked in a breath as he brought himself to his knees while clutching his head, and looked back at his blurry friend. “Are you okay?”

Bugs wearily nodded, turning back to the man to find him staring at the scene silently. Before having time to wonder why he was suddenly so cooperative and not raging like he was before -or throughout the whole duration Bugs came to know him, because clearly this guy needed some serious anger management classes-, his ears caught footsteps coming from outside the kitchen door,

“Ay, honey, are you done? I hope the kitchen’s still neat like we agreed-”

Helen’s face seemed to pale the moment she spotted him, cigarette between her fingers about to be lightened, and all was silent as they exchanged glances. Bugs was not aware enough to care about what type of reaction he was giving at the moment, but apparently it was enough for Helen to quickly regain her senses,

“B-Bugs?! What… are you doing here?” She asked with fake -yet partially genuine- confusion, pocketing her cigarette.

“I think you’d know…” Bugs murmured with a scowl, still hurting but there were much more important things to focus on, “You locked me in the bathroom!” He declared, for Helen to wince. Mr. Duck’s eyes widened,

“WHAT?!” He sharply turned to his wife.

“What?!” Daffy echoed, eyes on Bugs rather than on his mother(?), and Bugs just simply sent a look to him, one that ended Daffy’s suspicion as he grasped it with a frown.

“How come I’m not informed about something like this?!” Mr. Duck shouted to Helen, who’d already grown out of her shock and crossed her arms, “You don’t make decisions like these on your own!”

“They were plotting against you, you know?” Helen hissed, approaching the man, “The first time I ever hear Daffy speak in full sentences he’s planning with his friend to fucking oppose you. Daffy can TALK!” She yelled, pointing at said duck on the floor.

The man just stared at her unamusingly.

“You don’t seem surprised…” Helen whispered, backing away with vast eyes, “YOU KNEW HE COULD SPEAK ALL THIS TIME?!”

“You knowing wouldn’t have changed anything…” The man said flatly.

“W-?!” Helen choked in her own words, looking like she could strangle the larger duck any moment now, “Last I checked, that was OUR son!” Bugs heard Daffy’s heart skip a beat, straining in a way. He chose to ignore the bickering to take a good look at his roommate. Daffy looked horrible, and Bugs knew he did, too. In the duck’s hand, however, Bugs noticed that it held something, but couldn’t really make out what it was.

“Hey, Daffy,” He made sure his voice was loud enough because now yelling filled the kitchen, “Watcha’ got there?”

“Oh, this?” Daffy asked, showing it to Bugs. The hare’s eyes widened in surprise. “That’s the tape recorder I was gonna tell you about-”

Bugs realized it was on, and quickly blurted, “How much did you record?”

“The entire thing…” Daffy answered cautiously, fiddling nervously with the recorder, “I know it’s probably stupid– I was gonna ask you if it was, anyway; but I did.” As Daffy spoke, Bugs sorted out his thoughts, and found his face growing brighter and brighter, “I carry it out with me all the time, thought it’d come in handy-”

“Stupid?! Daffy you’re a mad genius!” Bugs shook Daffy by the shoulders as shouting became louder in the background. The duck seemed lost,

“I am?”

“You basically cobbled our ticket outa’ here!” Bugs shook him again.

“I did?”

With a confident smirk, Bugs looked back at the couple while getting up and helping his friend on his feet, too,

“WE AGREED TO NEVER OPEN THIS UP AGAIN!” Mr. Duck banged on the counter beside him angrily,

“AND YET HERE WE ARE!” Helen shot back with tears in her eyes,

“STOOOOOOP!” Bugs, side-carrying Daffy, shrieked as loud as he could, for the two of them to freeze and turn their attention to him. The hare opened his palm without looking at his roommate, for Daffy to knowingly hand the recorder to him.

“What the hell’s that?” Helen growled, for Mr. Duck to snap,

“Don’t say anything sloppy!”

“What?” She shook her head confusingly.

“Allow me to clarify,” Bugs began with a hint of amusement in his eyes, “This is a tape recorder that has been recording all of what’s been happening since Daffy’d entered this kitchen… Get the point yet, Mrs. Duck?”

Helen seemed to pick up on the implication quickly, as her feathers bristled.

“That’s right. A bunch of confessions have been made here. I’m sure you two wouldn’t like this, the thing that has what happened today in audio, to get in the wrong hands, especially the hands of, say, law enforcements?” He gave a lazy grin.

Daffy flinched from beside him, “My parents can really go to jail for hitting me?” His voice was low.

“NOBODY’S GOIN’ ANYWHERE!” Mr. Duck snapped, approaching Bugs, “Give me that, NOW!”

“Ah, ah, ah,” Bugs nonchalantly said, stopping the man in his tracks, “Do you wish to make your blacklist any longer, Mr. Duck? Because… o-oh, man, there’s already false imprisonment, assault, battery and more…”

The man took his fists back to him at that, sending daggers to the hare. Bugs couldn’t care less.

“But Daffy stole from us!” Helen exclaimed, loud enough for the recorder to pick up on it.

Bugs’ anger rose, “Well, why don’t we all go to court right now and hand this over to them, because your justification for beating up your son totally makes sense!” He snarled. This was ridiculous.

Helen took a step back, choosing to remain quiet for now. Smart move.

“Look,” Mr. Duck began slowly, carefully, “We don’t need any strangers’ involvement. Or the cops’.” Bugs scoffed at that, because wasn’t that the same man who’d threatened Daffy with a lawsuit if he didn’t get what he want? “Just hand me my pearls and you two can leave. This will be a secret among all of us.”

Bugs gave a mocking chuckle, “It will stay that way, believe me, Mr. Duck.” His face darkened, “But I’m gonna make a deal with you.”

Daffy turned to him.

“You’re gonna listen to what he has to say,” Bugs said defiantly, “and you’ll take the tape recorder.”

“What about the necklace?” Helen stepped in.

“It’s Daffy’s, and you’ll never bother him about it again.”

The older ducks exchanged glances.

“I thought I told you that you’re not leaving until we get what we want!” Helen rose her voice.

“And you want this, don’t you?” Bugs remarked, waving the tape recorder. Helen wasn’t the least bit amused. “Look, it’s either you do this the easy way or the hard way. And I have to remind you that the hard way… well, is just a phone call away.” He shrugged, handing Daffy the recorder back and grabbing his phone for emphasis, “Plus, you wouldn’t want the neighbors watching you getting put in a cab, or for rumors to spread in your area. And, oof, do these stick.” He was sure that would get them, because these people were nothing but appearance.

Funny how circumstances take a turn like that, with Bugs basically using the same tactic Daffy’s father had been tormenting him with for the past week.

And, expectantly enough, that did waver the two, the image seeming to flash in both of their minds before Mr. Duck hesitantly spoke,

“No, no we wouldn’t.” He inhaled, finding great difficulty in what he was about to say, “Okay, you win, Bugs. We accept the deal. Give us the recorder and get lost.” He said between gritted teeth, attempting to snatch the device from Daffy’s hand.

“No!” Bugs snapped, putting himself between the two, “Not before you hear what Daffy has to say!”

“Oh, so now he has something to say.” Helen retorted, rolling her eyes as her arms crossed, “Wonder where the fuck that was in the ten years I’ve got to know him. Why should I listen to a thing he wants to ‘say’ now?!”

Bugs’ blood boiled at the unbearable insensitivity, about to open his mouth to snap, but someone beat him to the punch,

“Because you made me that way.”

Daffy’s tone was quiet, dangerously low, though it didn’t fail to cut Helen’s sentence short, as the woman stutters in her breath to look at who wasn’t looking back at her, with Bugs feeling the vibrations that were emitting from him and were most certainly teetering on the edge of rage rather than fear. Bugs himself smirked ever so slightly, sensing that he’s about to witness the show of a lifetime.

“Excuse me?” Helen gave a riposte, but Bugs could pinpoint the hesitance radiating off of it, like the woman still couldn’t grasp the fact that Daffy’s got a voice at all.

“You made me that way.” Daffy repeated, resolute, and he finally looks up at the two of them, eyes narrowed and fixated, all signs of previous dread gone, though Bugs could feel his roommate’s fingers grasping his shoulder for solace and guessed his presence had something to do with that. Finding comfort in such thought, the hare then turned to the others, seeing as the man’s eyes turned wide with disbelief, and the woman bristled in shock, as if they couldn’t believe his roommate’s ‘audacity’.

Oh, they don’t even know the half of it.

Daffy’s father stepped up as he began to furiously speak, “Are you sayin-”

“Who was the one that couldn’t stand my voice and reminded me of that every time I spoke…?” Daffy didn’t even acknowledge his father, looking Helen dead in the eye. The woman’s crossed arms tensed, Bugs able to hear each time her heart stuttered from a where he stood, “Who made fun of my teeth every day till I wished I could just yank them one by one to get you to stop? Who kept mocking my lisp and wished I could just shut the fuck up because it was getting on their nerves? And now you’ve got the nerve to act shocked that I wasn’t speaking to you?! Me, your ten year old ‘son’, who you couldn’t stand just for having a lisp-”

Mr. Duck fumed at being ignored and decides to step in once more, “Don’t you DARE talk to your mother-”

“SHUT UP!” Daffy yells as Bugs feels the clutch on his shoulder strengthens, but he’s actually just as mad so it’s not like he’d ever mind. The elders of the room seem so taken aback by their son’s behavior that they actually do what he said, which is kind of funny, because to Bugs this was just typical Daffy behavior that he had seriously started to miss, “It’s not like you were any better! Mister ‘call her mother or you’ll get slapped’! You cared about her feelings more than you ever did mine, your actual son, can you even fathom how STUPID that is?!”

Bugs’ heart sinks at the sound of all of this, feeling Daffy’s chest spasm with breath at the sheer frustration and anger he’s experiencing, and Bugs believes that despite the shitty things he’s heard that should be enough to cause anyone to react like so, that’s far from the end of it. Clearly he’s barely scratching the surface and Bugs couldn’t have hated a couple more in his life…

“You little…” The man venomously muttered but did nothing more.

“Don’t raise your voice at us!” Helen seemed to finally snap and, oh, there it was, treating Daffy like a child once again. Acting like she had any kind authority over him to try and regain control of the situation. Bugs growled under his breath.

Daffy surprisingly let the woman continue, simply narrowing his eyes at her, “Don’t think that just because you tasted independence that you can say whatever the hell you want! You still owe us for the decade you spent leeching off of us in case you’ve forgotten!” She swung her arms furiously, Bugs bristling in even more rage in response. Daffy was still silent, even when Helen resumed with a mocking, irritating chuckle, “Besides, is that really your justification for stealing?! That we were just hard on you, like all parents should be?!” Her eyes rolled, “Be so for real, Daffy. You’ve had it way better than other kids. Open your damn eyes!”

It was kind of impressive how this woman could drive Bugs to be the one shaking in anger, ears slanted backwards threateningly and teeth gritted so harshly that they were almost grating against each other. He was trying so hard to keep his cool but these people were making it impossible-

“Pff-”

All Bugs’ anger dissipated at the snort his friend beside him emitted, replaced by bewilderment at his now fully-cackling roommate, covering his beak as it goes on. The kitchen was silent besides that, and the hare studied Daffy’s body-language carefully, trying to understand…

“What’s so fucking funny…?” Mr. Duck was the one to ask, eyes bloodshot and narrowed and borderline insane.

“Oh- Ah- sorry,” Daffy so disrespectfully continued laughing at their faces, and it was beautiful, but the hare could see it once the duck opened his eyes, how glassy and red-rimmed they seemed, how much hurt he was covering up by this loud, confident façade. Bugs bet that the other two would never, in a million years, ever notice.

“I think you should know what’s so hilarious, dad.” Daffy finally caught his breath to answer, though still with a wide smile, “‘My justification for stealing’? I never stole anything!” He addresses Helen first, then his father, hysterical, “You of all people should know that! Grandma herself gave this to me, you were just too stuck up to accept the fact that she liked me more than you!”

“Whuh…?” Helen chuckled in confusion, glancing to her husband, who didn’t seem to be fully disagreeing, before Helen took on defense, “Don’t just spout any bullshit and expect us to believe you! It’s been your father’s ever since your ‘grandmommy’ died.” She referred to Daffy’s grandmother in mockery, which actually fazed his roommate, whose breath hitched and body shook aggressively. “Isn’t that right, Henry-?!”

“Fuck you.”

The loud enough to be heard statement quietens the room, and Bugs’ head whips to look at Daffy’s expression, with his eyes so wide they might be unseeing, and his voice teetering on the edge of a breakdown because clearly his grandmother is a sensitive topic, and Helen has crossed a very, very delicate line.

Never in the five years he’d spent with the duck had Bugs seen him this utterly disturbed.

Bugs turns back to the two, to find Daffy’s not-father (Henry, apparently), and Daffy’s definite not-mother shook beyond words, like their brains were briefly malfunctioning at the sheer disrespect that they clearly have never bared with before, and especially not from Daffy.

Finally, Helen snapped out of it first, screeching, “EXCUSE YOU-?!”

“YOU HEARD ME!” Daffy screams, eyes glistening ever more.

She furiously threw her cigarette on the ground and was getting closer to them, like a predator about ready to lunge, and Bugs quickly acted, stepping backwards with his fingers quickly dialing a phone number-

“HELEN, LEAVE IT-”

“I’LL FUCKING TEACH YOU, YOU DISRESPECTFUL PUNK- HOW DARE Y-!”

Bugs threw his phone forward to show her the screen, 911 clear and in big, bold letters, “One more step and you both get it!” Helen stopped, petrified, though panting like a raging bull, eyes fixated on Daffy with nothing short of murderous intent. “Back off!”

Surprisingly, it was Henry who was the rational one in the situation, yanking his wife back beside him, and Bugs’ form shook in relief, senses hay wiring as he felt and heard Daffy gasp beside him in clear, raw emotions, as he watched Henry’s hand clutch his wife’s arm probably to the point of bruising, as he saw Henry lock eyes with him in scary, calm, concealed rage, like he was the reason all of this was happening…

And midst all this Bugs came to a definite conclusion.

This house was a curse.

The amount of violence initiated in the span of minutes, the absolute lack of empathy clear on either of them, even towards each other. Bugs figured that for every indication that Daffy ran away from here, rather than got kicked out, he had every right to do so-

“Give me. the damn recorder. Bugs.” Henry spitted each word between his teeth, eyes piercing and red, “And go to hell. Both of you.”

And Bugs actually considered it, wanting nothing but to get Daffy out of here, but said duck was not backing down, in classic Daffy fashion,

“Admit that the necklace is mine, dad!” He demanded, voice wavering in a sort of desperation, an attempt to clear his name, “Say it-!”

“What difference would that fucking make?!” Henry yelled in clear pent-up rage, “that’s all in the past. Doesn’t erase the fact that that is what’s left of my mother.” The hesitance at the words ‘my’ and ‘mother’ really sold how much this man didn’t really believe so.

“What…?” Helen whispered, finally seeming to get the memo. Daffy wasn’t lying.

“That’s right. It’s the only thing left from grandma, because you decided to sell everything else!” Daffy exclaimed, upset, “I’m not letting you let go of this, too!”

“We have bills to pay, Daffy!” The man hollered, pointing at the ground firmly, “Even if we weren’t perfect like you bitched about, is it really a good reason to kick your own parents to the curb?!” It was really apparent how much the man was trying to hold back his angry nature, and resort to sympathy because that was the only tactic he could resort to, “Is that your answer after putting a roof over your head for eighteen years?!”

Said duck scoffed, appalled, “You? Parents?”

“Didn’t you just claim that it’s all in the past?” Bugs deadpanned, though quietly.

“Let me put it this way because you clearly don’t get it.” Daffy continued, looking Henry dead in the eye, “You, were nothing but an abusive jerk. She, was nothing but a bully. Both of you combined created a narcissistic hellish environment unsufferable to live in. When will you understand that?!” Bugs was a little impressed about the word-usage there. Who knew Daffy had such impressive vocabulary? “How much you hurt grandma, how much you hurt me?! All you cared about were yourselves! Don’t you ever call yourself parents-!”

Helen seemed to calm down enough to counter, “All we did was try our best-”

“Your best freaking sucked!” Daffy retaliated, and Bugs had to fight back a snicker just out of respect for his roommate’s situation, “I haven’t gotten a single good thing out of it! Each thing I learned here I had to unlearn, because I discovered how much of a piece of shit I am, and gee, wonder where I could have possibly learned that from?!”

“You, are crossing so many lines right now.” Henry growled, “Talking big like you’ve actually done something in your worthless life.” The anger-issues were making themselves known, Bugs noted, “You’re leeching off of somebody, just like you’ve always been, no business, no education, no social life, never made a man of yourself. You’re an embarrassment!” And, here it was. Bugs didn’t feel his roommate react a certain way to the last sentence, as if it wasn’t the first time he’d heard that from the man. Sickening. “You say you’ve changed, you say you had to re-learn, but what’s standing in front of me is a carbon-copy of my brother, who is, may I remind you, a fucking nobody doing absolutely nothing!”

Bugs’ frown deepened (and how was that even possible), wondering what kind of thing Daffy’s uncle had done to Henry in order to receive such awful behavior from the man. Money was on Henry being the problem in the relationship.

Daffy sighed, appearing tired from this back and forth, though his eyes are resolute on his not-dad, “Don’t act like you have the slightest clue on what I’ve gone through…”

Henry scoffed, “Like I said, I don’t need to. Eight years and you’re still the same, what else is there to kno-”

“You know I’m turning 28 next year?” It was a calm statement, a… perfectly normal one, in fact, though Daffy’s not-parents seemed to get taken aback by this information. Helen gasped in disbelief, eyes widening, while Henry acknowledged the fact with a surprised eyebrow-raise though recovered quickly. Bug was kind of lost. “Though none of that matters, right? Because you’re not actually interested in knowing. You only see what you want to see. And what you want to see is a waste of space, a nobody who has nobody-”

“I never said that-” Bugs gave the man a disbelieving look at the blatant, manipulative lie. Was he serious?!

Daffy didn’t even address that, “But I did have multiple jobs, I do have friends, I do have a girlfriend, and you know what? I know I’m a piece of shit to them, because I know I’ll never be good enough for them, just like I was never good enough for you two, so what’s the point of even trying?”

Bugs afforded to glance at his roommate, who was locking eyes with his not-parents and never seeming to back down, and the hare felt his heart sink slightly once he registered his words. He unconsciously squeezed harder on his roommate’s waist, any kind of reassurance.

Another fit of surprise attacked the duo, Bugs finding it both hilarious and upsetting. What a shame.

‘No one knows Daffy better than I do.’

Helen had seriously said that earlier today. Confidently, too, like she’d actually believed the statement. But how did she convince herself to believe such an obvious lie, when they hadn’t even asked about their son once in eight straight years? Why were they both even surprised at this point?

“You look stunned.” Once Daffy pointed it out, the duo’s expression immediately shifted. “I’d be, too. It’s been long, after all. The child you thought you knew everything about, suddenly turns up as a stranger.” He laughed quietly, like he realized something, “But I’ve always been a stranger to you, huh?”

He sadly eyed Helen specifically, in which she tried to utter, “No– I knew yo-”

“Did you even have any idea of what I like or don’t like?” He asked calmly, with a smile, and Helen’s moth shut, “Don’t think so. Oh, you’re never gonna believe it. Guess what– I like having friends, I like getting into shenanigans, I like going out and doing the randomest shit and seeing where that gets me, I like back talking and having the last word in every exchange- I-I love being a loudmouth, I love being me!” He fully teared up now, like a final retribution after years of holding it in, pressing a curled hand to his heart, “If you can’t handle that, that’s your own damn problem!”

“Daffy-!” Helen tried, frowning.

His friend continued regardless, “And even though I have little people who tolerate me in life, at least they do tolerate me, unlike you two who couldn’t stand my existence for just being Daffy Duck, someone you created!”

Helen slumped after the last line, as if she’d given up on what she wanted to say. Henry crossed his arms with no sympathy evident on his face. Daffy wiped his eyes with a sniff, not breaking down yet, though Bugs sensed he was about to. Maybe that was their cue-

“And let me tell you something,” Oh, Daffy wasn’t done, eying his not-father in sheer determination, “Dipsy Duck will forever be more of a man than Dummy Duck’s ever been.”

Dipsy? Dummy?

Wait…

If Dipsy Duck is Daffy’s uncle, then Dummy Duck…-

Henry’s feathers visibly bristled, somehow this comment having him completely lose his already bad semblance of control he’d had on his anger, fists curling really tightly and eyes giving that red shimmer they always give whenever he experienced a tantrum. Though his grasp on his emotions seemed to work at the last second because he resorted to venomously hissing,

“You are no son of mine.”

Daffy didn’t tense up, didn’t get shocked, didn’t desolate in the slightest, but simply narrowed his eyes firmly, challengingly,

“Good. I never had a father to begin with.”

Bugs couldn’t have been prouder.

Though,

“Wait, wait, timeout.” Bugs couldn’t hold it anymore, his devious persona itching to point it out, “I’m sorry, your name is Dummy?!” He full on cackled.

And that did it, “IT’S HENRY NOW!”

“Pff, I take anything I ever said about your name back, Daffy.” Bugs couldn’t help it, especially with the shared objective of it being an effort to reduce his friend’s tears, “At least your name isn’t Dummy Duck!”

Daffy weakly chuckled against him, wiping his eyes, and nodding.

“I’LL KILL YOU-” Henry was marching right towards them, while Helen seemingly tried to hold him back.

Oh, yeah, that was definitely their cue…

He turned to his roommate, smug and knowing expression on his face, “Ay, what do ya say, Daff?”

Daffy stared at him, teary eyed, but a sly smile crossed his face as he instantly got the implication. He frowned with a determined nod, “Let’s do this.”

Bugs’ smug expression cracked into an insanely wide smile, having missed wreaking havoc in a while. They both turned on their heels, towards the exit of the kitchen with Bugs hurriedly exclaiming,

“THANKS FOR DINNER, MRS. DUCK!”

And together they bolted.

His sensitive ears picked up a screech, “The- THE RECORDER! DAFFY, WHAT THE FUCK- THE RECORDER-!”

“LET ME GO! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HOLDING ME-”

“YOU WERE ACTUALLY GONNA KILL H-”

“I DON’T FUCKING CARE-!”

Neither of them were in the best shape to actually conserve a ton of energy, but adrenaline was a heck of a helper. Hand in hand, dragging Daffy particularly along because of his messed foot, they ran as fast as their injured selves could until they were out the front door, out of that wretched house and Bugs had never been happier to feel the sun’s warmth on his fur. Both of them were in hysterics.

“BUGS!!!”  

They were halfway through the sidewalk of the shriveling, dying garden when the man roared his name from the front door,

“GET BACK HERE! FUCKIN- GIVE ME THE NECKLACE! DAFFY!”

The man sounded like he’d stepped out of his house to chase them, the hare not even bothering looking back to know. His ears, however, picked a series of steps on the opposite end of the garden, whipping his head to the source to find one of the neighbors peeking their head from their fence-

“Mr. Duck…?”

“What’s goin’ on here?!” Another neighbor from the opposite side questioned in concern.

“Is that… Daffy?” “Who’s that with him-” “*Gasp* I can see blood on their…-” Murmurs and murmurs filled his ears-

Bugs’ eyes lightened.

He looked back to see Henry’s reaction, to find that he’d stilled in horror like he’d been caught red handed. Which he definitely was.

“Get back inside, Henry!” Helen screamed from indoors, not daring to step outside.

“What’s the matter, Mr. Duck?!” Bugs shouted in mockery while stepping outside the garden, the man’s eye visibly twitching in rage but unable to express such rage, “Weren’t you gonna kill us or was that an empty threat?”

The gasping of the audience grew, along with the audience itself, while Henry’s form trembled and shook, grabbing the feathers on his head while his eyes fixed on Bugs specifically, blown in madness.

He felt Daffy knock him in the ribs, a fond glint in his eyes, “You’re unbelievable.”

Bugs snickered just as fondly, a little relaxed now that he was sure they were safe enough from any harmful grasp. Phones began clicking and recording the scene, all while Bugs opened the car door for his friend.

As Daffy stepped into his seat, he made sure to get one point across, “I meant it, you two!” Before Bugs could begin to wonder what he was alluding two, he saw the duck seriously raise certain fingers with the rest of his fists closed, and the hare lost it-

“Oh my God-” He couldn’t breathe, shoving the duck in the car in his fit of laughter, who was still flipping the couple off-

What a scene.

Henry actually insanely roared from his spot in the midst of the sidewalk, grabbing his feathered head and it seemed that any more applied force would rip them off, while Helen put her hands on her beak in what could only be described as pure disbelief, unable to register what was happening.

Bugs stepped into his Porsche, buckled up, and started the car-

“YOU’LL PAY FOR TH-”

“YEAH, YEAH, FOR SURE!” Bugs rudely took off before he can hear the rest of an empty threat, the car tires screeching on the asphalt, then zooming.

“BUGS BUNNY!!” Is the last thing the hare heard from either of them…

…

Both of them were panting, shaking, sweating, the thrill of the moment wearing out their rapidly beating hearts, exhausted beyond belief, but…

But they were smiling, they were happy, they were chuckling and laughing and Daffy was tearing up and it was all so, so ethereal and surreal beyond belief…

Bugs took his eyes off the road to glance at his partner for just a second, and such a second counted, because the duck looked back and a million things were said, a million things were concluded, but one in particular stood out,

Daffy had done it…

Daffy was free.

Chapter Text

Adrenaline really was a heck of a helper.

Bugs could feel it the moment it dissipated, when the road he was driving on started to blur in a variety of colors, as the sound of the car’s engine began to hurt his ears despite how muffled it was, when the back of his head started to throb immensely even though it’s almost been half an hour, and the cherry on top being the absolute exhaustion he began to experience, to the point where talking deemed a little difficult to conduct.

The hare could tell exactly when it withdrew from Daffy’s system, as well. Because the duck had been deathly quiet after their little fit of hysteria, and when Bugs stole a glance he saw how slumped his partner was, how his head was hanged to contemplate at his hand, how said hand held the pearl collar that’d been the inducement of the day as a whole, and how he hadn’t worn it yet, something driving him from doing so…

They probably would have been chatting about the day if they’d been better, even making fun of some aspects of it, with Daffy being loud and obnoxious and Bugs rolling his eyes with a smile.

But they were tired, they were injured and they were unmedicated. And if it weren’t for the fact that Bugs was feeling like he’d went through a freaking grinder, he’d have confronted Daffy about his silence, or ask why he was staring at the necklace like he was living through every traumatic memory he had all over again-

Instead he let out a hiss he’d been suppressing, scrunching his eyes to hinder the twilight hues of orange and purple -where the setting sun was beautiful but also painful- and pressing his ears flat against his head to block out the damn engine noises can’t it just shut up-

“You okay?”

Bugs opened his eyes again, now registering how much of a mistake that was because he was driving for god’s sake, and tried to focus back on the road through hazy vision as he addressed his roommate,

“Mm. Little tired, that’s all…” He heaved, but when he felt the disbelief radiating from Daffy’s stare even without looking, he decided to admit it, “Heh, I think I’m a little concussed.”

The laugh was remote, soulless, and the road was becoming its own unique shape now that didn’t resemble a road at all. He barely registered Daffy’s reaction, or his startled aura, but he got It in the tone,

“You really think it’s a good idea to drive with a concussion?”

Bugs actively smiled at that, nausea creeping in but it was manageable, “Don’t think we have other options here, pal.”

It wasn’t like Daffy was any better. He’d been punched at least twice and may have also had his ankle stepped on or kicked at. So a concussion and an injured foot. If anything, the hare shouldn’t be complaining at all.

“Hey, no.” Daffy protested calmly, quietly, tone so foreign that Bugs barely recognized it. For some reason finding that funny, as well. “Pull over. I can drive.”

Bugs was about to shake his head but refrained in the last second. That would’ve been a disaster, “Home isn’t that far away. I’ll manage.”

“You can hold on for an extra hour? In the dark?” Daffy stressed, and, oh, there was still an hour left? Before he could even think of an answer, Daffy finalized, “Didn’t think so. Pull over, bucko.”

The faintest frown crossed his features, “And you’re any better?” The retort was weak, not having its usual bite when he’d argue with his roommate over something. He grimaced.

“No, feel like one big bruise. But we’ll think of something.” Bugs had yet to list sideways with the vehicle in order to park, which the duck clearly took annoyance to, “Bugs, seriously, come on.”

It took a second, but Bugs eventually grumbled in annoyance, pressing the brakes gently. He really wanted to go home, sleep on his bed, but at this rate, it was probably for the best to refrain from driving. Bugs was practically blind to the road, good thing it had been fairly empty because the hare was sure that otherwise they would have absolutely crashed…

Finally, he took the keys out and the sound of the engine stopped, the rabbit pretty much sagging in relief, relishing the mercy on his eardrums that for a second almost felt like they’d pop. Still too tired to hold his ears upright, however.

He finally turned to the duck, finding him staring at him in some sort of concern. Bugs hated that look, simply because it didn’t fit him at all. It looked wrong on Daffy.

“What…?”

Daffy blinked, “Just…” He held onto the word for a second, before sighing, defeated, turning back to the necklace, “Never mind.”

Bugs’ expression softened just a tad, headache worsening but that line managed to slightly sober him up in order to get ahold of his clumsy thoughts. He took the sight of the duck in with bleary eyes, noting how the left side of his beak had started to bruise in the mixtures of blue and green rather than the usual orange, and that was without mentioning the dried blood that’d seeped from his nose and mouth. Bugs could imagine he was in no better shape.

And it clicked, the reason why all of this was irking him. It wasn’t just the look of concern that looked wrong on Daffy, no,

Daffy as a whole felt… wrong.

Bugs had a hunch why, following the duck’s line of sight towards the collar, that may or may not be the culprit. Before he could collect himself enough to question, though, Daffy appeared faster than him in that regard,

“Should I call Porky to pick us up…?”

Bugs thought of it, to find the idea of going home to sleep worth leaving his car here. Then his mind jabbed him in a different direction, suddenly remembering the pain-killers he had in the car’s glove compartment, which were prescribed by Dr. Weisberg and wait was he supposed to have his yearly check-in this week or the week af-

“Man, you’re worse off than I thought…” Daffy remarked in slight sympathy, a snarl to his tone. He opened his phone with shaky fingers before Bugs could recall what the question even was, to quietly curse, “Dammit, no signal.” The twilight was gradually drifting into hues of dark blues and moonlight. He sighed, turning towards Bugs, “Gonna let me d-?”

“Pills.”

Daffy paused with a quirked brow, “What?”

Bugs stared at him, then frowned, what was he trying to say again? Oh, right, “Headache pills. We have some in the glove compartment.”

Daffy blinked, “Really?” He quickly opened said drawer, “Which ones would you like?”

“Tylenol’s fine…”

Daffy handed the tablet to him after taking a pill for himself. Bugs swallowed two, hoping it’d clear the pain enough for him to be able to drive again. The blurriness might also fade on its own, he hoped.

“Is that all?” Daffy asked.

“Mm. Think Tylenol’s enough for now. I’m going to Weisberg tomorrow, though.” And of course he’d drag his roommate along with him.

“No, that’s not enough.” Daffy sharply disagreed, “Let me drive.”

Bugs closed his eyes, trying to translate his thoughts into words, “Give me a minute, I’ll be fine.”

“Really, if you can’t-”

“Daffy, your right foot’s in a bad shape…” Bugs mumbled, staring at the moon ahead. Man, his head was killing him, “And don’t speak. I can tell how much it hurts ya.”

“You’re one to talk…” Daffy mumbled without much bite to it, crossing his arms, and leaning his shoulder against the door, fight leaving him, “Your cheek’s bruised…”

Bugs touched his cheek without pressing too much, fingers itching to touch the back of his head, though his ears did a job of protecting it. These were the areas that hurt the most, not counting the concussion symptoms.

Bugs huffed a laugh before even saying the remark, “Your beak’s green.” Though when no retort came back, the smile fell, turning into a frown.

He leaned forward, grabbed the steering wheel, and pressed his forehead into his hands, sighing lowly. He then rested his cheek on them, to be comfortably staring at the duck, asking, “What exactly happened?”

Daffy visibly tensed as he stared at his necklace. Bugs figured he should have been more specific,

“I mean, did he kick your ankle, or…?”

“I fell while trying to escape,” Daffy spoke solemnly, not reciprocating the look, “sprained my ankle, I think. It’s stupid.”

Bugs, for whatever clarity he currently had, knew that that wasn’t the full story. But he wouldn’t pester his friend about it, not at the moment. Not when neither of them were lucid enough to process what had happened, or even what was happening right now.

Later, though, he might.

“It’s not stupid.” Was as much as he’d nag Daffy about it tonight, eyes showing way more sympathy than he’d like to admit, chalking that fault up to how awful he was currently feeling.

Daffy said nothing, and didn’t look back, leaving the silence to stretch. Every once in a while a car would pass by, causing disturbance in the quiet atmosphere, and Bugs closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. The back of his head still throbbed, apparently not stopping any time soon, and he pressed his ears further into it as a way to relieve the itch of touching it. It didn’t work.

As the ongoing stillness lingered, Bugs felt himself slipping away. Wouldn’t be too bad to rest for a bit, right? Maybe he could regain a little energy back, that way-

“I’m sorry…”

Bugs’ eyes snapped open, pushing himself off of his little make-shift head rest as he blinked, trying to determine if Daffy, in the lowest whisper someone could utter, had actually freaking apologized, or it was just his aching mind playing tricks on him…

The body-language confirmed the former, however, because his partner’s blown pupils were staring at his collar, hands shaking, eyes gleaming…

“What…?” Bugs heaved, not sure if he should take the apology seriously or not. Nothing was making any sense right now-

“I shouldn’t have brought you into this mess…” Daffy brokenly whispered, tone edging on a breakdown, and Bugs was stumped, not believing that the day Daffy finally takes accountability, it’d be over this-

“Daffy, what are you even talking about?” Bugs asked incredulously, just as lowly.

“I didn’t know things would go this far…” Daffy finally broke the evil staring-contest with his necklace, leaning forward to grab his hair, where Bugs couldn’t see his eyes anymore, “And now you’re hurt, and we can’t go home, and I- We…”

At the stutter of the duck’s breath, Bugs finally managed to catch his own, “Dude, Daff.” He leaned to touch his partner’s shoulder, all pain and nausea and fatigue forgotten, “I got myself into this. None of this is your fault.”

Daffy pressed his palms into his eyes, probably seeing stars in the process, probably trying not to cry, “Never thought my dad would hit you too- I thought- I’m sorry-”

“Hey, hey,” Bugs cooed swiftly, a hand on each shoulder, now, “if anyone is to blame, it’s Henry and Helen. You didn’t know. It wasn’t your fault, Daffy. It wasn’t.”

It looked like Daffy had been holding this off for a while, maybe since they left that wretched house, he assumed. The concussion might also be playing a part in his sudden mood-shift, leaving the duck an emotional wreck.

Maybe the lack of the necklace was an influential factor, as well…

Daffy shook, grimacing, though he collected himself before he could let out a single sob, taking his hands off his eyes, which, through the moon and street lights, revealed the hard-to-notice eyebags to the hare. Despite how awkward their seating would allow it, Bugs really wished he could give him a hug. The guy’s been through a lot today…

“Daffy,” Bugs began, a little slowly, sure he was going to slur some of what wanted to express, “Nobody is at fault but Henry and Helen. I mean it. They’re the ones who suddenly showed back up in your life after eight years of abandonment. Henry was the one who basically dragged ya to your old house with a threat. And it wasn’t like it was because they wanted to see you. It was all about money.” Bugs snarled, heart thundering loudly in his chest, “They’re the horrible ones. Don’t take accountability for that.” The medicine might be doing its work, since his voice didn’t sent him reeling in pain, and could actually focus enough to remember the events of the day.

Daffy sniffed, finally maintaining eye-contact with him, and he opened his beak, as if about to say something, then grimaced, averting his eyes.

Something was wrong, still. Bugs decided to lighten the mood upon noticing,

“Besides, it’s not like I’m that beat up,” He gave a tight smile through his pained cheek, “This is basically a Tuesday night for me, come on-”

“It’s ten years, actually.” Daffy cut him off, shoulders losing their tension under Bugs’ grip.

Bugs blinked, statement flying way over his head because of course it would, all but accomplishing a simple, “Huh…?”

“I haven’t seen them in ten years.” Daffy clarified, narrowed eyes boring into the seat in something akin to judgement, “No clue why they kept saying eight years. Guess they lost count after a while…”

Bugs’ face fell, ears somehow drooping even further, mouth moving on its own, “Daffy…” He may have been aiming to console, he wasn’t sure, but what came out was a somber, “that’s awful…”

“I know.” His partner sucked in a breath, then turned to him with an obvious glint in his eyes, even to the hare’s blurry ones. He seemed… relieved, like admitting it was difficult for him, somehow, and now that he’d done it, a part of him was put at ease, “It’s okay, though…”

NO IT WASN’T, Bugs couldn’t say, because of all the horrible, horrible implications-

Daffy was alone for five years…

Daffy had no place to stay in for half a decade…

Daffy ran away at seventeen.

-Instead he pulled the duck into a hug, which made the other rigid for a second, before melting right into it. True, their seating made it a little awkward, Bugs practically splayed over in order to reach him, but the fact that the duck embraced him back made it worth it…

“Thanks… for being here…” Daffy hesitantly whispered.

“Don’t thank me for that.” Bugs replied lowly, leaning a bit further than he’d like to admit, body starting to feel a little too heavy to hold.

Daffy must’ve sensed that, because his chest spasmed in a low chuckle, “Hey, don’t fall asleep on me.”

“It’s tempting…” Bugs whined mockingly with a smile, before willing his body to back off, Daffy helping him in that regard with a light push to his shoulders.

As they sat back, smiling at each other tiredly, Bugs looked ahead, finding that his vision had cleared a bit,

“We’ll wait another minute then we’ll hit the road.”

“Take your time…” Daffy said, still in that foreign tone Bugs had yet to point out. It was unclear why Daffy wasn’t wearing his necklace at the moment, rather staring at it. I mean, through Bugs’ mishap of losing his gloves, he had taken every chance to replace them, just to feel like himself again.

But Daffy… Daffy was holding that off for some reason, and Bugs’ frenzied mind could only jump to one conclusion…

It was like Daffy didn’t want to feel like himself again…

“Why…?”

“Hm?” Daffy suddenly turned to him, to which the hare realized that, oh, he’d said that out loud-

“Oh- uh…” Bugs suddenly couldn’t collect his thoughts, mind spiraling. He attempted to stare at the necklace with narrowed eyes in an effort to remember what he was trying to say…

Daffy blinked back, then followed his line of sight, to perk up a little. He pointed at his own neck questioningly, which Bugs appreciated through his struggle.

Bugs nodded slightly, “Something wrong…?” he whispered unconsciously once again, tongue weirdly faster than his brain.

Daffy lightly shook his head, “Not exactly. I mean-” Now Daffy was the one struggling with his words, collar now tucked in his imaginary pocket. Bugs was patient throughout his little sputters, “-don’t laugh at me. But- I think I’ll forget…” Daffy winced at him expectantly.

Bugs just stared back, not realizing that that was the sentence’s conclusion. When he did, though, “You’ll… forget…” He repeated, like the statement will somehow make any sense that way. It didn’t.

And should it? Was he supposed to understand? Or was his mind really that far gone to the point where he couldn’t understand a reference enough to laugh at Daffy? How could that be possible-?!

“Wait, I never told you?” Daffy seemed surprised. Bugs mirrored his expression. “That’s crazy…” Daffy leaned forward, covering one eye in what Bugs assumed to be nervousness.

Bugs did not know what he was supposed to do at the moment, courtesy of being totally lost. He merely attempted to reach his friend’s shoulder once again, but before he could, Daffy straightened once again, rubbing each eye with his four fingers,

“Okay, okay, from the top.” Daffy whispered, sounding fine, though a little hysteric. Bugs took his hand back. “From the top because otherwise I think you’ll kill me. Uh…” He stopped with his nervous stimming, to hold a reluctant look with Bugs, “…so, um, I never really talk about my parents, right?” Bugs nodded, following. “There’s actually a reason for that. See, I- how do I say this without being blunt-”

“You’re always blunt, Daffy.” Bugs pointed out calmly, “Don’t think too hard about it. Just say it.”

“Fine, okay. It’s because… when I wear the necklace, I think I forget stuff.” Bugs’ eyes widened slightly, “I don’t really remember my time there with it on. Just… vague details. Like, I completely forget my childhood, what my parents did, I forget everything- it’s bizarre-”

“Wait, what?” Bugs exclaimed, which Daffy nodded to,

“I know!” The duck exclaimed, as well, “Everything before I ran away, poof, gone. And I’m not even one-hundred percent sure, because I never take this thing off.” Daffy alluded to the necklace, “I only realized today, with how clear everything became, and now… I don’t know what to do.” He trailed with a shrug, while Bugs’ mouth hung open, brushing past the pain of his cheekbone to register all of this.

So that’s why.

As crazy as it sounded, this actually made a lot of sense. Why Daffy had sort of been calmer and collected today– since he was talking through years of repressed trauma and pain; why he had never even mentioned a fraction of his childhood to Bugs throughout the five years of staying with him, why he was refusing to wear the collar despite the threat of his parents looming over him gone– he had no idea what will happen.

“So there is a chance ya might actually forget what happened today…?” Bugs asked incredulously, for the duck to send him a sheepish look,

“I’m not sure? But I don’t think so.” Daffy said hopefully, “I’m just theorizing, here, but when I wear it I forget stuff about my childhood. What happened today isn’t… really my childhood.” He shrugged uncertainly, “Maybe I’ll remember the day without its details. Or whatever I said about my past will be… unfamiliar. Like someone else said it.” His shoulders drooped, sighing, “My brain is weird.”

It was, but Bugs wasn’t really one to talk, mr. ‘a pair of gloves can change my entire personality’…

If Bugs’ gloves altered how he acted, then Daffy’s collar affected what he remembered. Neither of them could really change that, only embrace the fact that they were both weird, in that sense.

Which was why Bugs didn’t really pry or question much, rather came up with an idea,

“Then tell me about it.”

Daffy blinked in confusion, eying him to elaborate.

“Tell me about your childhood…” Bugs said as he turned the car on, engine cracking to life. “As much as you’d like to tell me. It’s better if one of us knows, right? And I still don’t really have the full context of things. I’ll listen.” Maybe that could also sober him up enough to get on with that remaining hour quickly…

Daffy was surprised for a second, before scoffing with a smile, “Man, I don’t know… I never really told anyone about this stuff before.” He shook his head as Bugs hit the road, then huffed, “I mean sure, I can tell you, but… be a little more specific? Believe it or not, I can’t remember anything from when I was a baby, so I can’t exactly ‘start from the beginning’.” Bugs could hear the smirk in the other’s tone.

Bugs chuckled, “Good point.” He then fell silent, trying to point out the biggest questions he’d had throughout their little visit -if you could actually call it that-, to come up with a random one,

“About the whole… necklace situation. You said your grandma gave it to you, right?”

“Yeah.” Daffy vocalized, since Bugs couldn’t really turn to him at the moment, focused on the dimly-lit road.

“And your uncle clearly had one, too. So I’m confused, why would Henry call your pearls his?” The rabbit frowned slightly, “Where is his actual necklace? Did he sell it and decided to turn to yours?”

“Oh, that’s a complicated one…” Bugs listened as Daffy rested his back, silent for a moment, before a tired sigh escaping his throat, “No, my dad didn’t have one for himself. I mean- grandma, she…” He paused, like he realized something. Bugs didn’t rush him.

“Okay, look, to understand the weird dynamic of my hell of a family, we’ll start with grandma…” Daffy began, weirdly subdued, “I spent a lot of time with her before mom died. My actual mom. And grandma was filthy rich, lived in a mansion, basically.” Bugs nodded along, indicated he was listening, “I remember her always telling me: ‘listen to your mother, Daffy. Dummy is not your role model’” Daffy reprised with a feminine voice, “And she said it enough times to make it stick. It was clear that my grandma didn’t like my father, or at least was aware he wasn’t a good dad. My uncle, though, he was basically her favorite. I think you can tell what kind of dynamic aspired from that…”

Bugs’ mind clicked, “Your father was jealous of your uncle. That’s why he always badmouthed him…”

“Yup.” The duck confirmed, popping the ‘P’, “And the badmouthing was actually from as long as I can remember. My dad hated my uncle, and would always project those feelings to me, telling me that if I ever turned out like him, he’d disown me. Which made me hate my uncle, too, because I was a dumb child who believed everything his parents said. These feelings never really went away…”

Bugs’ eyes softened, remembering the time he forced Daffy to see his uncle. His partner had been ashamed of his relative, not even wanting to be associated with him. Even when he practically couldn’t even remember all of what his father had planted onto him, courtesy of the pearls, the words still ran so deep to the point where Daffy had started irrationally loathing his uncle…

“After my mom died when I was ten, I realized that my father hated grandma, too.” Daffy continued, “He didn’t allow me to go visit her house, which was my only escape from my dad’s anger issues or Helen’s awful remarks about me, or even their loud-ass bickering. And when grandma came to visit, my dad would just argue with her for hours at the door, not even allowing her in. I did what I wanted anyway and first escaped to see her at twelve. Those two were not happy.”

Bugs actually chanced a look towards the duck at that, finding him cross-armed, head hung with a cool demeanor as he spoke. Though that didn’t fool Bugs, because the grip Daffy had on his arm was too tight, trembling.

Soon it stopped, as Daffy didn’t dwell into the point that much, “I still went and visited secretly, though, and things kept being back and forth for three more years. After I turned fifteen…” His voice shook, “Grandma died. The one person left who cared enough about me, died. Leaving me with no one else to turn to…”

Bugs blinked back tears, heart out for his friend.

“I was devastated. But my parents didn’t want me to go to the funeral, saying it was for ‘adults’ but I knew it was just an excuse. And I was sure they were just going to discuss my grandma’s will, and her fortune. They never cared enough about her to cry for her…” Daffy sniffed, “Little did they know… that grandma basically left scraps for father.”

Bugs’ eyes widened as he took a right turn, kind of getting it, now.

“The entire will just talked about me, and uncle. Which included pearls for each of us, making things worse from there. My dad was in rage for months after, somehow making everything my fault, and hated me so much for it.” The duck’s breath stuttered, “The abuse doubled, the hitting got worse. He mainly took his rage out on me, because of ‘how much my face reminded him of her’. Helen just watched while smoking, the only time she didn’t argue with dad… I couldn’t shout because she was there.”

Bugs trembled, imagining the scene in tints of bloody red, a tear daring escape his eye. He knew if he just took one glance at the duck, both of them might just break.

Daffy took a minute, not sobbing yet, but the hare felt he was about to. He didn’t know what to say, opting for giving his friend the space he needed, but even that felt like too little to do…

Finally, he heard Daffy give a shaky, breathless sigh, “It took me two years to finally snap and dip…” He croaked, an audible lump in his throat he was swallowing, “I didn’t care where I went. Anywhere was better than there. And… yeah. Ten years later, here we are…”

Bugs tried to recollect himself in order to reply, to console, before Daffy spoke again,

“So, to answer your question, this is my necklace, and Henry didn’t get one.” He finalized, tired, “I managed to hide it from them in the two years I still lived with them, because Henry was convinced that it was his. Which inspired the whole ‘you stole from me’ schtick. I understood when it came from Henry, but Helen? She really had no idea what she was talking about. That was funny.”

His tone didn’t indicate any amusement, however, tainted with hurt and frustration and exhaustion, shaking and cracking each time he said one of their names…

Bugs wasn’t typically a tactile guy, but he was almost tempted to give Daffy a second hug, the only thing holding him back from doing so was his death grip on the steering wheel that was beginning to hurt his knuckles…

The pause lingered between them. Bugs not sure if he should say something, give his friend some space, or ask the question that he had been dying to get an answer to since he’d known-

“And… in those five years before we met each other?” He winced, because that was definitely the worse option, but his mind wasn’t really working at full capacity at the moment. The duck perked up slightly, didn’t appear tense or offended, which Bugs took as a good sign, allowing him to go on, “Didja go stay at your uncle’s?”

At that Daffy tensed a little, before his chest shook in a remote chuckle, “Pff, no. I knew Henry was leeching off of him and would’ve found me.” Bugs blinked at that, a little surprised. “Why do you think he lives in a trailer now?” Daffy pointed out, which, oh yeah, the man should have been rich, given how wealthy his late mother had been. Damn, Henry sucked. “My uncle’s way too kind for his own good… The only thing he didn’t give up was the necklace. Everything else, given and sold.”

The rabbit’s mind flashed back to earlier that day, making him frown.

How ironic it was that Henry was complaining about Daffy leeching off of Bugs, when the man had practically been doing the same in this past decade. And when his brother was eventually left with nothing, he finally turned to the only source he could find.

‘You never made a man out of yourself, after all…’

What a fucking hypocrite…

All the negative attributes in Daffy’s personality were either inherited from his parents, or taught. Each and every one, circled back to that awful man and that awful house and that awful couple…

Dummy was simply chiding a mirror and making himself believe that he wasn’t.

“So what did you do…?” Bugs whispered, upset.

“Eh…” Daffy started offhandedly, shrugging like it wasn’t a big deal, “Lived on the streets for a while, picked a job, got fired. Porky asked me to stay with him a bunch of times, actually, but my pride didn’t allow me to seek help from my high school bully. I always refused…”

Bugs’ ears sagged, hating the emptiness that settled within. A seventeen year old duck, homeless for five years, with no one to turn to, no one to care for him…

When Bugs had met him, though, he thought none of that. Just that Daffy was endearing, a little weird, maybe a bit unhinged, asking for stamps during their first encounter, of all things. The duck had walked along with him, who seemed a little invasive, asking him who he was sending the letter to, and where he was headed…

“Uh… my house?” Bugs had answered hesitantly.

Daffy had seemed shocked, taking things a bit too literal, “You- you have a house of your own? Without a monthly rent?”

“Nah. I made plenty to buy my own. I invented the carrot peeler.” Bugs had boasted, always finding the chance to bring that up.

“Wow. Why didn’t I think of that? I should invent something!” Daffy had said, like it was so easy, “Maybe this way I’d buy my own house, too!”

Bugs had actively chuckled at that, amused by the other’s antics, “Why, landlord’s giving you trouble?”

“What landlord?” Daffy asked him in genuine curiosity, then snorted, “Oh, no, I don’t even have a place to stay in. One day I will, though…”

Bugs had stopped in his trail, eyes wide, “Wait, what-?”

It took a few more questions from Bugs’ end to make sure that the guy wasn’t bluffing with him, especially with the stranger being so nonchalant about it. Then they’d parted ways, Bugs doing so hesitantly…

It’d taken him a month to see Daffy again, and during that month Bugs had been thinking about him often, wondering why he’d never helped the duck out, offered him some money or even a paid stay at his house. He hated that he never helped at all…

So naturally, at the second encounter, Bugs made sure to offer at least one of them.

And naturally, at the first chance of getting pampered, the duck had taken it.

The paid week turned into a month, the month turned into two, then three, and by then Bugs had learned not to expect a check from Daffy anymore, letting him stay just for the heck of it. The company may have also been nice, though he’d never admit it…

Daffy never seemed appreciative of it enough to prompt the hare to tap himself in the back and tell himself good job, never one to indulge being pitied unless it benefited him. But now looking at this through the lens of Daffy being incapable of recalling why he even ran away in the first place, things made a lot more sense…

“Daffy,” Bugs’ expression softened, finding only one fitting thing he could say, “I’m sorry.”

He heard Daffy snicker humorously, “What are you even sorry for?” By the reflective light out of the corner of Bugs’ vision, the necklace was back in Daffy’s grip.

“I don’t know.” Bugs stared at the road unseeingly, eyes blurry for an entirely different reason this time, “For everything? For never asking? Just-”

“Stop being stupid.” Daffy cut him off lightly, “My own parents, who were the actual source of my misery, never apologized. So why should you?”

Bugs clasped his mouth shut, wincing for words.

“Also, who cares, amiright? The past’s in the past, yada yada.” Daffy added positively, “Besides, now that I cut them off for good, I think I feel…” Daffy searched for a word for it as he hung his head, relieved, “lighter.”

Bugs decided to turn to him at that, and they both held eye-contact for a second. The bunny smiled, earnestly, softly, “I’m glad.”

And if they ever dare contact you again, they know what’s coming to them…

He was gonna take good care of that recorder.

Daffy beamed back, before diverting his attention to the necklace, “Eh, it’s all thanks to you, anyway. Going out of your way to help someone like me…”

It took a while for Bugs’ smile to fall at that remark, recalling a confession that was made during this hectic day,

‘I’ll never be good enough for them’

Oh, Daffy…

He turned to the duck, who looked like he was about to finally wrap his collar around his neck, Bugs finding it hard in him to stop him from doing so after all this time, but he did anyway, lowering Daffy’s hand with his. He could feel the duck’s confused gaze piercing him,

“Hey, I know you’re not yourself, but be sincere with me for a moment.” Hand still placed, Bugs had no idea how morally correct this was, but it killed him to know, “You really think you won’t ever be good enough for Tina? Or Porky? Or- Or even me?” He stuttered, voice getting gradually louder, “I mean, I always thought you didn’t even care what we thought of you.”

“The fact that you tolerated me this long is a mystery in of itself, Bugs.” Is what Daffy replied with after an amused snort, tone subdued and way more mature than his partner had ever sounded. “I don’t know if you’d noticed, but I’m kinda insufferable with this thing on.” He said jokingly, but it didn’t fail to twist the rabbit’s heart, in a way…

“But that’s you.” Bugs said, earnest, fingers curling along the other’s, who had them limp, “And I don’t hate any part of you, Daffy, no matter how insufferable. Neither does Tina, nor Porky, nor Speedy or granny, nor anyone who cares enough about you to call you a friend.” The bunny looked him dead in the eye, seeing something glint in the other’s, “You are already good enough. Don’t forget that.”

Daffy stared, then averted his pupils with a low sniff, “Even if it means that I really did turn out like uncle…?”

The comment caught Bugs off-guard, before he grinned, “Better than turning out like ‘father’. Right, doc?”

At that, he felt the other hand finally reciprocate the squeeze, letting out a pleased sigh, “Right…”

Then he let go, heading to put the necklace back, but before he could fully clutch it on, he turned to him, “Thanks, Bugs, really. For everything…”

“Not bad for ‘moral support’, huh?” Bugs witted, giving the other a side-eye.

Daffy laughed, and it was the best sound in the world, “Not bad at all…”

Click.

Bugs sighed to himself relievedly, feeling the other’s aura shift and turn into something familiar. Something louder, closer.

And the first sentence that the other uttered, was a complaint, “What’s with the bumming vibe? Turn some music on.”

Bugs smiled, man he’d missed this, “Turn it on yourself, I’m driving.”

“Oh, so I have to do everything around here, huh?” The other grumbled, “What happened to respect these days?” Daffy turned on their favorite playlist anyway, humming along with the first song with a small smile.

The hare smiled widely, pained cheek not much of a bother.

It was a testament to how much Daffy meant to him, that at the first sign of a mischaracterization, Bugs knew how much the duck needed him, and decided to tag along.

And if he hadn’t, he would have genuinely lost the loveable asshole he called a roommate without a warning or a notice. Just suddenly, Daffy would’ve been quiet and earnest and subdued, forced to live through his repressed memories with no way of ever coming back.

The thought would’ve sent a chill down his spine, but Daffy was finally back, and Bugs had learned enough to know what to expect now. He had learned plenty.

In summary, fuck Henry, and fuck Helen.

If it ever meant that he’d fight tooth and nail to get his friend back, then he’d do it all over again. The concussion was worth it, his aching cheekbone was worth it, the nausea and the crippling exhaustion and the crave for a bed were all worth it, because he’d be doing it for him.

And as they closed in on their neighborhood, their home, Bugs turned to the duck to find him singing along the song passionately, to the point of screaming. The hare chuckled, warm,

“Never change, Daff…”

Out of the corner of his eye, Daffy’s smile grew…