Chapter 18, Epilogue.

Morning came mercifully slowly. Yakko whimpered plaintively as light filtered through the windows, feeling the warm chest rising and falling slowly under his head. Yakko, dreading what had become the usual interruption to his sleep, hadn’t expected to sleep in as late as he had. Ether everyone else was as tired as Dee and he had been, or Slappy was feeling uncharacteristically merciful. He had time to slowly awaken, his bare hand rubbing through Dee’s chest fur. He was so warm and Yakko was loathe to move away from him. He knew the moment he rose Dee wouldn’t be far behind, and he didn’t want to wake him. ‘And besides…’ He thought as his thigh rubbed up Dee’s morning wood. ‘...it would mean leaving this behind too.’ 

He hadn’t told his siblings about them, since the first trip out to Toon Town, and that day in the motel. He hadn’t needed to. All four of them could tell, even as subtle as they were being about it. If any of them had any objections they would have made them known, but all remained tactfully silent. Though Psykko did exchange a look with him yesterday morning that carried a lot of, something, with it. Still, a small shrug and an almost imperceptible dismissive flick of his tail tip had said enough. His only concern was for Dee’s happiness and safety. So long as Yakko provided that, he wasn’t concerned.

The issue of ‘family’ had never factored in as humans understood it. Their status as cousins was more a statement of relationship than genetics. They would have had to all be animated by Lon, all on the same page to be actually related, and while they were all the same species they were no more blood relatives than Bugs was to Buster Bunny. So when circumstance and other baser things pushed them together, the only real concern had been how they would navigate it emotionally. Thankfully that had yet to be an issue.

They weren’t anything super serious, and nether had revisited it since moving back into the tower. But something about this second trip rekindled it. Maybe it was the stress, bringing them together in an act of solidarity. Maybe they were developing a mutual hotel room fetish. Ether way they had been all over each other since the night they arrived in Toon Town’s fanciest hotel. And last night Dee had needed comforting more than ever. This whole affair had been more difficult for him than he was willing to admit. Yakko was getting better at noticing the turmoil bubbling under the surface of his calm, so when the opportunity arrived he had been there to listen, to hold, and more, until both evened out and Dee could function again. It had been intense, emotional, cathartic, and Yakko was glad their room was at the far end of the suite from the others, especially Slappy. Her commentary he did not need.

Eventually an inability to return to sleep, and more basic biological needs won out and he slowly, reluctantly, left Dee’s side to pad quietly to their bathroom, taking the opportunity to brush his teeth and get a shower going. He was under the hot high pressure spray for less than five minutes before a pair of warm arms enveloped him from behind, and gentle kisses rained down on his shoulder and neck.

“Did I wake you?” Yakko fought in vane to keep the purr out of his voice, as his head tilted. Dee only shook his head, grunting softly into his wet fur. “I never could stay asleep alone.” His deeper voice sending a slight thrill up Yakko’s spine. “I missed your warmth.” Dee murmured as another part of him, much lower down, nuzzled against something else.

Yakko’s tail curled around the small of the taller Warner’s back as he rested his hands on Dee’s with a smile. “And is that all you missed?” He teased. A low playful growl rose from Dee’s throat as he pressed Yakko against the shower wall, eliciting a gasp form the shorter Warner. “Mmm, maybe that too.” Yakko couldn’t contain the sharp gasp as Dee’s fangs grazed slowly along the nape of his neck. Nor the sounds that followed as he entered him, taking his time to give Yakko the tenderness that had been missing from last night. Yakko had to admit both approaches had their charms, and in their own context both felt appropriate. His back arched as he pressed back against his advancing hips, both taking their time as steam obscured everything beyond, a humid veil between them and the rest of the world, narrowing everything down to a moment that felt like it went on both forever, and ended all too soon. And in those tender moments Yakko silently thanked whoever taught this man how to make love. Even if it did mean he would have to wash all over again.

Both dried and eventually dressed. Yakko did however take his time exploring Dee’s finer points which delayed things further. But at least he got breakfast out of it, he thought with an inward grin. Finally they decided to join the rest that were no doubt awake by now. Though, surprisingly they found the only one awake was Slappy, flipping through the tv channels with a small smile. Without breaking her gaze she waved to them. “You know you two are lucky I’m so discrete. I was tempted to pair you off with your sibs, just to see how you handled sneaking off to be with each other.”

Dee wasn’t normally one to be perturbed, but in this moment his blush mirrored Yakko’s own as they gawked at her. “How did you know?” The taller Warner finally asked. “Were we too-”

“I didn’t. Till just now. Thanks for confirmin it for me, heh! Now I know what all those weird looks and tail flicks meant.” She chuckled softly. “You did a good job keepin it on the down low kids, but
I’ve seen it all before. I can tell when somethins up. Just don’t get super public about it, the human rags will have a field day. Not that anyone in Toon Town would care.”

Both Warners exchanged a look, ducking their heads as they made their way to the on suite kitchen. “I need breakfast.” Yakko muttered, covering the side of his face from Slappy who cackled again as Dee followed with a “Ditto.”

‘Ah they’re a cute couple.’ She thought with a smile. ‘Even if they aint nothin serious, they’re good for each other. Good on em.’ She was no saint, she had seen this a dozen times before, hell even been one half of them more times than she should count. Her note of caution was serious though. Humans didn’t think like toons, and they might take things too personal that didn’t involve them. Especially with Yakko being a beloved public figure as he was. Still, it wasn’t as bad over here as it was with those...what did Skippy call em? K-pop Idols? Feh. The contracts those poor kids wound up in were almost as bad as what toons had to endure until fairly recently. Why any human would submit to being virtually owned by another human for money was beyond her. What you gave away was worth more than what you gained by far.

In the kitchen Yakko and Dee settled on something simple. Cereal again. At least this time it had a minimum of extra sugar and colors not found in nature. It was the quietest breakfast they could think to make till the others were awake, and nether were keen to eat much first thing in the morning. They spoke low trying to keep their voices from booming off the tile walls and waking their sibs.

“So what happens now?” Dee asked as he stared at his empty bowl.

“We return home. Bugs and the others will handle everything else. The council doesn’t seem to want us involved, and they especially wanna keep you three out of the spotlight.” Yakko sat back resting his hand on the spot on his neck where just moments earlier fangs had been pressed. It still tingled slightly, and that always sent a thrill through him.
“That suits us.” Dee nodded, rubbing the side of his foot up and down Yakko’s calf affectionately. “None of us ever wanted fame, just freedom and stability. I don’t much care about being rich beyond that, and I would rather people not stop me in a grocery store or something getting nosy.”

“That might happen anyway considerin how you guys look sort of like us. But these are the same folks who confuse every squirrel toon they see with Skippy. They aren’t terribly observant.” Yakko rested a hand on Dee’s. “We can handle stuff like that though. We won’t stop being there just because this drama is done. I promise.” Yakko leaned in and their lips met softly, Dee’s warm hand resting gently on his cheek. Both jumped with a start as a soft higher pitched male voice interrupted.

“Is there any cereal left?” Dee turned to his little brother lifting him onto the next empty chair. 

“Sure chief, lemme get you a bowl.” Dee kissed his sleepy brother’s head softly before getting his stuff together. Yakko hadn’t see him this calm, or sweet since they met. He looked as if a great weight were lifted from him and he could finally be his self. He actually smiled at him! Yakko’s heart melted a little at that. Though he blushed as he spoke softly to him. “He loves you.” He said bluntly, blushing softly as he watched his brother rummage through the cabinets. “I can tell.”

He looked at Yakko then, tilting his head slightly. “You love him too. Good. He needs that.”

“You need it too.” Yakko replied equally forthright.

Psykko scowled a little. “Not like that.” He replied. “There are hugs and then there are hugs and I don’t want the ones that come in italics. Not yet anyway.”

Yakko snerked and fought down a laugh. “No I meant the hugs that come in Times New Roman. Or perhaps Comic Sans.”

“Or Wing Dings.” Dee chuckled as he returned with a bowl and spoon, pouring it for him.

“I can do it you know.” Psykko groused as Dee doted on him.

“Yeah but then I don’t get to spoil my favorite bro.” He kissed Psykko’s head softly as he handed him the spoon.

‘So...cute!’ Yakko had to suppress a squeal as others began filtering into the kitchen. Yakko doted on his own sibs as well, while Peg set about actually cooking something, griping about cereal not being ‘real food’. 

‘Huh, didn’t notice that before.’ Yakko noticed for the first time the trans flag sewn onto her jacket, almost easy to miss among the band patches and metal spikes. He looked at Dee, who only nodded while she served him a plate kissing her cheek in thanks.

Yakko simply smiled and thanked her as she served him as well, then the others in kind. Huge portions of simple fare filled bellies as she took Slappy her portion, not content to sit and eat herself till everyone else had theirs. When she did finally eat though, it was with the gusto and appetite Yakko had only seen with his little brother, packing away a small mountain of eggs and bacon. It occurred to him in that moment that this was the first time they had all sat around a table together to eat. He hoped it would be a regular event, as the air filled with laughter.
Eventually Slappy joined them, thanking Peg and giving her a gentle hug, collecting plates with the intention of doing the dishes her self. Of course none of them would have it and it eventually turned into an assembly line as dishes were collected, washed, rinsed, dried, and put away. It felt strange for them all to be so loving and gentle with each other, but in this moment, it also felt right.

It was a further two days after that before they checked out. Slappy insisted everyone avail their selves of every luxury the hotel offered. “Oh the council’s dime.” she stated with a wicked grin. And avail their selves they did, for once unwinding in a place that let them be what they are without judgment.

And Yakko and Dee availed their selves of each other quite a bit more in the process. Though not without a bit of light jeering at their expense. Still, it was all in good fun, and they got their own digs in. They almost hated to leave when it came time to check out. But they were running out of fresh clothes, and Bugs’s bank account was running dry. Yakko had no idea that an avocado and citrus face mask and a deep tissue massage every day could cost so much, but apparently Slappy did and took full advantage.

The trip home seemed to fly by, and it wasn’t long before they all said their goodbyes to Slappy and piled into the elevator to take them to their home. The rest of the day passed fairly slow as they all wound down, and when bedtime rolled around they all gratefully fell into a deep dreamless rest. Well except for Yakko and Dee, who weren’t quite ready to return to empty beds. Maybe tomorrow night.

‘But for now,’ Yakko thought as his arms, and legs, wrapped about Dee’s body in the dark of his room. ‘for now I won’t let go.’ He was extra glad he negotiated sound proofing that night.

-----

‘It’s been nearly three months, how is he not sick of me yet?’ Dee’s chest heaved as a surprisingly soft sound escaped his throat. ‘He’s so good at this.’ 

Yakko watched Dee below him struggling to stay quiet. The night was still relatively young and he didn’t want to wake his siblings. That was easier said than done with Yakko’s tongue swirling under his foreskin, his hands tickling along the white patch of fur above his shaft, and rolling his balls around while a lubed finger swiped at his entrance over and over all at the same time. He felt like Yakko was all around him, filling up the room with his presence, which was silly to say of course. He knew exactly where he was. But the sensations he elicited seemed to crawl up and down his whole body. He was more nervous than usual this time, knowing what they were about to do.

Yakko continually tested his bodies reaction to his touch, never committing enough to give it time to clamp down defensively. Dee never had been much of a bottom, but after confessing he felt guilty always being on top, Yakko suggested they work on getting him more comfortable with being touched there. They had managed once before this, but only just. And he couldn’t handle it long enough to finish. Tonight though, tonight that would change. Yakko could feel it in his...well, that too, but also his finger. He was more relaxed than before, and Yakko was doing a masterful job distracting him enough to keep Dee from fixating on his rear.

He wanted this, had said as much many times. He just needed help along the way. ‘He’s ready now.’ Yakko thought as he felt Dee’s body yield under his touch. Slowly he had been pressing more within him on each stroke, and now his body seemingly gave up as he finally slid his middle finger deep within the taller Warner, Dee’s back arching as it came to rest on his button. Yakko’s greater experience, near a century of it, clearly won out. Dee wasn’t the first virgin he had inducted, or the most stubborn. And as he tickled just so at the right spot he enveloped more of his member in his warm lips to counterbalance the input. It was a delicate act not pushing him over the edge just yet. As much as he adored tasting him, he wanted to keep his passions high for what came next.

Dee was almost inconsolable as alien sensations took hold, his toes curling as fingers gripped his bed sheets. As a second finger joined the first he had to keep reminding his self that he wanted this, he was safe, he loved this man and he wouldn’t hurt him. He willed his body to relax as those fingers withdrew and those delightful lips left his shaft, biting his lip in anticipation as he felt Yakko’s body nuzzling up against his. His voice was soft in Dee’s ear, reassuring and calming as he took his time entering him.

Yakko fought to suppress a purr as he felt Dee’s body embrace him. So warm and tight he felt like he was melting as the man shuddered and keened under him. “Shhh it’s ok. I’m here.”

Lips locked for long minutes as Dee grew accustomed to him, allowing some of his walls to lower as he embraced his lover. “I’m going to start now, ok? I’ll go slow.” Yakko whispered against his neck, his breath labored. Dee felt guilty in that moment that he had been so worked up about this. Yakko was at the end of his control, and as he withdrew and slowly plunged forward again his shuddering moan belied just how much he had been anticipating this.

The sensation was...unreal. Dee’s head rolled back and a full throated moan dragged out of him as Yakko’s shaft pressed against every tender spot within him. Sensations he hadn’t experienced before danced up and down his spine as he felt like he was, for lack of a better phrase, having his shaft stroked from within. ‘Is this what it’s like for him?’ 

His legs curled experimentally around Yakko’s body as he had done to him so many times before, and he found out exactly why as Yakko drove directly into his prostate and his mind went blank. Instinct took over, and his arms went around Yakko’s neck. He could consciously tell he was saying something to Yakko, but not what. 

He could guess though as everything grew so much more intense. Bodies collided, separated, collided again in increasing pitch, till slow love making built to a frenzy that left him holding on for dear life. And when Yakko’s climax crested, his own wasn’t far behind. And for the first time in his life he hadn’t needed to even touch it. He felt like his whole body was on fire in the best way possible. Lights and colors dancing behind his eyes as movement slowed. Chests pressed against one another as they heaved in the close air, as the room spun, and lips locked once more. 

“I love you.” He breathed in Yakko’s ear, his body freezing at the confession. Meeting eyes with Yakko in the dark he said again, more to his self than to Yakko in that moment, realization dawning on him. “I do. I do love you.”

Yakko held his face gently, raining kisses down on him. “I love you too. Ever since Toon Town I’ve known. Your brother was the first to notice it, and once he said it I felt like a light bulb went off in my head. I haven’t wanted to push because I didn’t want to ruin what we have.” His hand rubbed along Dee’s chest as he spoke, tracing the lines the muscle underneath his fur created. “I didn’t want to push ether, after everything that has happened. You needed space, time to become, and I’ve been so selfish injecting myself into that.”

Dee rested a hand on Yakkos’s face, entwining his tail with the smaller toon’s. “I’ve come this far because of you. Not in spite of you.” He caressed Yakko’s cheek with his thumb as he spoke. “If you hadn’t been there for me I would still be in a bad place. All you have done since we met was give, even when you had every right not to. You’re not selfish Yakko. Quite the opposite.” Lips locked again in the dark for a long while, interspersed with reassurances, warmth, and love. When sleep took them, they didn’t even move from their spot.

-----

‘They look so juicy.’ Yakko marveled as he stood under the strange fruit tree. A cool breeze blew through his fur as he stood naked in the orchard, sunlight warming him as he basked in the light, bird song filling the air with the gentle warble of “Hey! I’m walkin ere!” “Aye dis is my branch feeb, fuck off!” “Aye cute thang, you want sum fuk?”

“Ah...majestic.” Yakko smiled as he reached for the fruit before him. His hand paused as a new thought  occurred to him. “Oh! I’m so dumb, you don’t use your hands for these. You suck them off!” Leaning up with his mouth he latched his lips around the fruit, it’s sweet musky peach like scent filling his mouth and nose. He hummed softly as his lips locked tightly around it, the branch tugging down as he pulled on it from below. The branch snapped back as the stem gave way and-

BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM! ‘Aw fuck, tell me if you’ve heard this one before!’ Yakko thought as he was abruptly yanked from his dream, coming to with a mouth full of Dee’s nipple. He hadn’t done more than grunt in his sleep and turn his pretty head as the door boomed again. “For fucks sake.” Yakko groaned as he sat back on his knees, slipping from within his lover as the events of last night replayed in his head on fast forward. ‘Oh yeah...that.’ He thought with a sly grin, as he looked Dee’s nude form over.

The door rang like a gong once again, turning his smile into a scowl. Before he had a chance to do anything about it though he heard the door fly open and Peg’s voice, even louder than the knock roared at the interruption. “WHAT!?!” She was so loud she sounded like she was standing in the room with them. How the hell did she do that? 

Well he was awake now so may as well shower and get dress- “Yakko! It’s for you!” Peg bellowed. ‘-Ok maybe just get dressed.’ He thought, he eye twitching. A quick wipe down and some sweat pants later he emerged from their room, heh his room, looking sour, but less so than he otherwise would be at the situation. Peg stood defiantly at the door, her arms crossed as she stared down Bugs Bunny of all people.

Stepping up behind her he placed a hand gently on her shoulder. Her bedraggled state and foul mood ample indication that she had been asleep as well. She cut him a look, her expression softening before she scowled at the rabbit again, turning with a “Whatever.” befitting a gen-x’r. Yakko turned back to the rabbit smiling pleasantly.

“Bugs. You never call, you never write, you never give a man time to bathe. I hope you know what you interrupted.” Yakko said sweetly, barely hiding the sarcasm dripping from his voice.

“Eh, I got some idea doc.” The rabbit replied coolly pointing to the dried indiscretion on his stomach and chest fur. Yakko was beyond caring. If anything he was ready to shout from the rooftop that he had gotten laid and he wasn’t sorry.
“What’s this all about?” Yakko waved him in. He knew he would just walk in any way. Hell everyone did lately. No point in trying to keep one of the most powerful toons in the council out when he couldn’t even keep an aging doctor from barging in at all hours. “Do come in. I know I already have.”

“Doc, ew.” Bugs wrinkled his nose. “Have some class, would ya?” He perched daintily on the couch crossing one leg over another. “So who’s the lucky…” His nose twitched subtly. “Ah. Him. Well I guess that’s ta be expected. It’s been a crazy six months after all.”

“For all of us.” Yakko inclined his head subtly towards the rabbit. He would be remiss if he didn’t admit that David had been an imposition on him as well. Though for Bugs a decidedly less personal one.

“Yeh. About dat. Da council is sendin you guys a handler. It aint dat they don’t trust ya, but-”

“But they don’t trust them.” Yakko interrupted, his expression darkening.

Bugs tilted his head as he searched for the right words. “More dat they want some insurance. Some oversight. And eh, confidentially, we gotta problem child of our own ta deal with and this would keep him eh...busy.”

Yakko balked. “So when did we become the council’s baby sitters? Bug’s we’re done. This was it. We all just got settled back in from a dangerous situation, Dee and the others can’t handle more political bullshittery, and nether can we.”

Bugs held up a hand. “I know kid, and I sympathize, really. But I’m on my way out and da new guy aint so trustin.”

“Who?” Yakko’s brow knitted.

“Daff.” Bugs shrugged simply.

“Oh. Brilliant. They gave that ego maniac the reigns again. Again! What could possibly go wrong, I ask you? Surely he can’t fuck up a second time!” Yakko flailed his hands in the air as he spoke, aghast at the utter display of negligence.

“Yeah I know. And I’ll do what I can ta keep him grounded, but the reality is he was the only guy dat wanted the job. The council wanted Slappy, but she laughed in there faces.”

“Can’t imagine why.” Yakko quipped, sneering. The council wasn’t entirely bad, they had done a lot to advance toon rights and keep their darker sides hidden from humanity but in nearly every other metric they were a bureaucratic fuck up. A veritable Gordian knot that not even he was able to untangle. Thankfully he had never been asked back after his brief stent as it’s head. He would have laughed in their faces too.

“This guy they’re sending to spy on us…”

Bugs jerked his head toward the bedrooms. “Another one ah his.” Bugs said low. “Stable. For a toon. But only barely. Daff tried his queen bitch routine on the guy and he nearly snapped his head off. Literally. Kid has teeth that would make Dee’s little brother envious.”

“When did he even have the time to- the break out.” Yakko answered his own question before he finished it, shaking his head. 

“Ayup.” Bugs drawled. “One of the ones that busted the wall down. We found him way after everything settled down, livin in the trees on the asylum grounds. They evaluated him and deemed him a ‘type 1 a protag’ whatever da fuck that means. But they said he was normal enough ta let out and since we can’t just leave em ta fend for their selves…”

“You gave him a job.” Yakko finished the thought.

“Ayup. So go easy on em doc. Taint his fault he aint got no purpose.” The rabbit rose from his seat, pulling a thick manila folder from his hammer space, handing it to Yakko. “Ya got three weeks before my term ends and Daff sends this guy your way. I’ll do what I can ta smooth things ovah in the meantime. I would love ta stick around and check up on everyone, but I gotta million tings ta do and you need a shower.” He wrinkled his nose as he stepped closer to Yakko to hand him the folder.

Walking briskly past him Bugs turned before he closed the door. “I’ll be in touch doc.” Before closing it behind him with a metallic thud.

Yakko looked down at the folder for a moment, opting to stuff it in his hammer space till he could gather everyone together and let them know whats up. “Well. Shit.”

Making his way toward the bathroom he took Dee’s hand. He had known he was listening in, curiously Bugs hadn’t picked up on it. He was ether too distracted, or simply didn’t care. Ether way they shared a shower as he and Yakko exchanged their thoughts, among other substances. Those two things, and Dee were the few very bright spots keeping him sane in that moment.

-----

“That him?” Peg tilted her head looking at the photo. “All that money you would think they could afford a decent dslr. The resolution on this is shit. The lineage is there though. He’s definitely David’s work. They sure this guy is stable?”

“We have Bug’s word and the evaluation from Loopy Acres, which is legally binding.” Yakko pushed the papers over to her. “They have every incentive to not release anyone they aren’t a hundred percent sure on.”

“He could be acting though.” Dot pitched in. “We can all do that you know.”

“Looking like that, he couldn’t fool anyone with the innocent act.” Yakko replied. “But we will find out soon enough.”

“If he is a plant, you know we will have to flatten him.” Psykko of all people spoke up. All eyes turned toward him, his own siblings seemingly on the same page, but Yakko and his looked lost.

“I’m sorry, a plant?” He asked raising an eyebrow.

“He doesn’t look like a plant though. He’s not even green.” Wakko took the photo twisting it this way and that.

“Wakko please, let Psy speak.” Dot offered.

Psykko tilted his head in thought. “David never did things without reason. If he had wanted to simply get out he wouldn’t have needed a dozen toons. Just one would do.”

“Most of them were a distraction.” Dee pointed out.

“He wouldn’t need that many as a distraction ether.” Psykko replied. “He did all that after he met us, after I threatened him. If you wanted revenge against someone and couldn’t do it yourself…” He let the thought hang in the air, as Yakko pulled his phone out of his hammer space, speed dialing Bugs. ‘Fuckin idiots.’ He thought. ‘They’re sendin danger right to our front door.’

---

“Yeah. Well they know him best, and Psykko was his favorite. It’s a possibility. His logic is sound. We need contingencies. And I want the rest of those toons he made rounded up and evaluated again. This time with someone who’s actually good at their job. I don’t trust that sawed off rodent or his staff. Yeah. Get back to me when you have the time.” Yakko ended the call looking at the others around the table. Dot and Wakko appeared confused and worried, while Dee and the others appeared increasingly grim. 

“Well the upside is, we can’t be killed if he does turn out to be some kind of sleeper assassin.” Peg popped her knuckles as realization finally dawned on Dot and worry turned to panic.

“They don’t need to kill us.” Psykko replied darkly. “There are worse things. But at least I know how that scenario would play out.” He looked at Yakko almost devoid of emotion as he spoke. “You will need to tell all your human friends to take precautions. Personal guards, increased lot security, anything explosive or flammable should be secured, no vehicles left abandoned, and they really should have every piece of equipment used signed off on. No one should get on or off the lot without signing in or out. You should let Otto and his girlfriend know they could be in danger. We can’t be killed. But that doesn’t mean David can’t hurt us.”

“What do you mean?” Wakko was just as confused as ever. “We wreck stuff around here all the time.”

“You aren’t trying to kill anyone when you do.” Dee said as he sat back in his chair rubbing his eyes. “If David can’t get to us, can’t get to you, he will get to everyone and everything close to us. He could kick our support network out from under us, kill your human friends, their families, leave us with no home, no job, no food, in a community that would place the blame squarely on us. Our lives would be ruined, and we didn’t anticipate the possibility because we were so fixated on getting him. You gotta admit it’s a hell of a contingency plan.” He scoffed bitterly.

“Well Bugs knows now, and he’s still got three weeks to mitigate the risk. I’ll call Scratchy, and, though I hate to do it, Plotz. He’s not gonna like spending all that extra money on security, but he would like waking up to an anvil to the face even less. Bugs said he has some contacts outside of the council that he’s going to call as well. I still gotta call Slappy. She’s gonna be pissed.”

“Is she ever not?” Peg replied.

“Good point.” Yakko smiled as he pulled her contact up and hit call.

-----

“Ok pissed was an understatement.” Yakko stared at his phone blankly.

It had only been four hours and they were already looking at lines drawing for world war toon. Slappy let slip that Bug’s extra contacts were all mafia, the other half of all the families in Toon Town she personally didn’t have on the end of a string. And since revealing their thoughts to her about David’s contingency, she was rapidly pulling on them all. It must be nice to have armies at your beck and call. More so when those armies were composed of toons who knew how to not be seen, as well as how to combat their own.

They would have their work cut out for them even with Bugs releasing the dossers on all the toons David made. Many were fairly common designs and had been released into Toon Town without oversight. Tracking them all down and securing them would be a lengthy process. And even then there’s no way of knowing if those were the only ones he drew or if some were missing or unaccounted for. Now everything took on a more sinister tone. They would have to have eyes in the back of their heads. They could never relax fully. And nether could any humans within their proximity.

It occurred to Dee that even without breaking free, David may well have achieved his goal. Because if a wedge were driven between toons and humans, and resentment fomented, WB was as good as gone. As well as every other studio that worked with their kind. ‘Stupid selfish asshole would burn the world down just to inherit the ashes.’

And to top it all off, the guy that was getting control of the one thing standing between toons and humans turning on each other was by all accounts a loud brash incompetent maniac. This had to be shut down fast, and before he took power. Everyone was suddenly on a short timer. And the Warners could only sit there and try to act like everything was normal while their livelihoods danced on the edge of a knife.