New Arrivals Chapter 1
"Seven AM. This better be good.." Yakko cracked open an eye glaring at the clock beside his bed. He had been awakened rudely by frantic knocking at the tower door. Unusual in that no one ever came to visit and annoying because no one ever came to visit. Especially at seven AM.
"Yeah yeah one minuet!" Yakko growled tossing on his pants from the previous night he made his way to the door cursing as he stumbled over a discarded toy. He would have to talk to Wakko about that later. Cracking the door open he squinted into the morning light his eyes slowly focusing on a harried looking Doctor Scratchandsniff.
"Doc? What the hell? What do you want? Its seven AM i was trying to-"
"You need to get your brother und sister up Yakko. Somezing big has happened und...vell i zink you should see for yourzelf."
Yakko groaned rubbing his eyes. He really wasn't in the mood for riddles. But the Doctor was looking more animated than he was accustomed to seeing. That at least piqued his curiosity. "Look can't you just tell me so I can go back to bed? We were up late last night and-"
"Nein! No time!"
"Hey that rhymed." Yakko smirked. "And don't interrupt people it's rude." There was always time for a wise crack.
"If you have ze time for ze jokes then you have ze time for zis." The Doctor scowled crossing his arms his mood resolute.
Yakko sighed. He knew the Doctor could be nearly as stubborn as he was, and honestly didn't feel like fighting with him for once. It wasn't often that Yakko was this malleable.

"Ok fine just lemme get some clean clothes on and wake the sibs. When Dot starts screaming I’m blaming you Doc." The Doctor simply nodded and stepped inside without a word. His mood seemed odd to Yakko who was now awake enough to notice these things. His body language suggested anxiety and for once he wasn't trying to analyze him. He pulled a sour face as the Doctor brushed past him.
"Oh do come in. Me casa es su casa." Yakko scowled closing the door behind him. It wasn't like the Doctor to barge in uninvited ether. Bad enough that they couldn't have a real house now they have to deal with irritable invaders to boot.
"Fine fine you wake your brother und sister und I vill make zem somezink to eat. Zere is little time to vaste."
Yakko simply raised an eyebrow as the Doctor made his way quickly to the kitchen kicking toys and wads of paper aside as he went, the kitchen becoming a den of noise as he quickly threw something together for them to eat.
"Ether hes flipped his wig or something is very wrong." He mused aloud to himself.
After changing, Yakko made his way to Dot's room first. Despite his warning she was actually easier to wake up than Wakko without getting bitten. Peeking his head in he called out her name softly at first shaking her foot when she didn't respond. This got a grumble and some movement but little else. He sighed and settled on shaking her more assertively while calling her name finally getting whole words out of her. None of which should come out of a cute little girl.
"Yakko I swear if the tower isn't on fire or someone is dead, you soon will be." She growled sitting up from her nest of stuffed animals and glaring at him, her hair a disheveled mess.
"I know sis but the Doc is here and he's being all stubborn about it. Says something big has happened and he wants us to see it." He shrugged. 
"I can't imagine why they would want us there. We didn't do anything for once." She huffed finally sliding out of bed while Yakko handed her a dress.
"Lets just make this quick so he will stop trying to destroy our kitchen- This isn't Iron Chef Doc! For gods sake slow down! Never thought I would say those words to another person, let alone him."
This at least got a smile out of Dot. Nodding to himself satisfied that she would stay up he made his way to Wakko's room to repeat the process.
Wakko proved a tougher nut to crack and predictably had to be drug out of bed by his tail while clinging to his pillow whimpering and kicking the whole way.
"Come on Wakko get some clothes on you so we can get this over with. The Doc is making breakfast..." He tried to bribe him with food. Which usually did the trick.  
"Scratchies food tastes like crap." He grumbled into his pillow. At least he was on his feet now glaring at his closet but still clinging to his pillow. "He can't cook Yakko. Everything he makes is bland and gloopy. Ive pulled tastier things out of my nose then he-"
"OK EW! Let's stop that thought there and get with the clothes wearing. I think I'll skip breakfast now." Yakko scowled at the thought sticking his tongue out in disgust. At least he was fully awake now and from the sound of it so was Dot.
Making his way into the kitchen he saw the little angel in question brandishing a large wooden spoon at Doctor Scratchandsniff who was defending himself with a pot lid trying to justify why he interrupted her "cutie sleep".
"-and another thing-!"
"Dot! Don't kill the messenger! At least until we get more information and if it's something stupid then you can have him." Yakko rushed to her side to swipe the spoon and scoop her into a chair. She huffed and sat there with her arms crossed but at least she wasn't trying to kill anyone. None of them were morning people, and waking up was a hassle even under normal circumstances.
The doctor sighed in relief putting the lid aside and resuming the process of scooping eggs and toast onto plates. Dot could be a little terror when she was upset, and he could sympathize even. He had been awakened at 5 AM to a screaming Plotz. If he didn’t need this job so badly he would have given the histrionic pygmy an ear full as well. At least these three had time enough to eat a decent breakfast.
"This crud better taste good." Wakko had finally ambled out of his room dragging his pillow behind him as if to threaten a return sleep if breakfast wasn't up to his standards. He looked like an unmade bed but at least he wasn't naked.
Yakko started grabbing plates and handing them off to his sibs, then took a piece of toast for himself. It was the most his stomach could handle right after waking up, though he knew come brunch he would be ravenous. Sitting at the table and leaning back regarding the Doctor with his keen dark eyes.
"Ok we're up, and eating. Wanna tell us what this is about or do I let Dot have the spoon back?" Yakko waggled it near her head while she ate, glaring at the doctor the whole time.
The anxiety returned to the Doctors face with the reminder his eyes becoming shifty as he seemed to try to think of the right words to say. "Vell I don't have all zee details...Mister Plotz vas adamant zat you all be in his office as soon as I could get you zere. He only zaid it vas an emergency. I didn't ask to many questions and he sounded angry." He smiled sheepishly.
Yakko groaned. He could see the situation now. Plotz got his britches in a knot over some simple thing, screamed at Scratchandsniff and he came running like a loyal bloodhound without a second thought about it. This was not worth waking up for, but since they were awake already may as well see what this is about. Then he would let Dot have the spoon back.
To Wakko’s surprise breakfast wasn't to bad! Fried eggs and toast. Simple but hard to screw up. After an initial taste test Wakko downed the plate in one gulp burping loudly. This earned him a glare from Dot and Scratchy but he ignored them and just smiled to himself. 'That was a good one!' "S'cuse me." He drawled still grinning.
"Wakko you pig, can't you do that somewhere I don't have to hear it?" Dot pushed her plate aside apparently finished, or to grossed out to keep eating.
"If I do that then no one will know how loud it was." Wakko smiled his tongue sticking out of his mouth.
Dot gritted her teeth. "That's the point! You don't do that at the- ARGH! Boys..."
The trip to the office was uneventful in contrast to just getting everyone together and out the door. If Otto ever wondered why he never had kids, he had only to look to these three. Even the simplest things had to become an ordeal that made him want to beat his head against a wall. He sighed to himself and wondered what Plotz had been like as a child. Was he this bratty and difficult? He supposed he was more spoiled than anything. A child that got everything he ever wanted and demanded perfection. He probably didn't see his parents much ether.
His reverie was broken by Yakko opening the office door and uncharacteristically stalking up to Plotz in a dark mood rather than the usual jumping and yelling and jokes. He must be truly upset about having been awakened so early.
Yakko stepped up on top of the CEO's desk and leaned over poking the him in the chest with a gloved finger glaring at him with an uncharacteristically dangerous glint in his eye. "Ok mac, whats this about waking us up so early huh? We haven't had to get up this early since the show! Why I have half a mind to-"
"It's about your family." Plotz interrupted, strangely calm about having one of the most powerful toons in Burbank staring daggers at him.
Yakko blinked and raised an incredulous eyebrow, looking to his siblings who simply shrugged and stared back blank faced.
"No not those two. Your other family."
For once Plotz wasn't screaming or throwing things. He didn't even look the least bit upset. Which for him was strange in its self. He had a melt down when his coffee wasn’t right, typically he would be pacing on his desktop issuing threats and proclamations, not faking a calm demeanor that a trickle of sweat down his temple, and an elevated pulse that all the Warners could all hear belied. None of the humans on the lot had any idea just how much they noticed, heard, even smelled from them.
"We are our only family." Yakko pointed out matter of factly, arms crossed as he stared cooly at the CEO.
'Everyone is acting so strange today. Totally out of character. Scratchy isn't asking stupid questions, Plotz isn't screaming about money, And where the hell was Ralph? For that matter where is the nurse? She's never far behind Scratchy.' Yakko mused.
"Ehhhhhhhhhh ok this has gone on long enough.” Yakko put on a saccharine voice and a faux sweet smile as if talking to a toddler. “What is this about? Why was it worth getting out of bed at the butt crack of dawn? And why are you two acting so weird? Scratchy looks like he's about to have a breakdown and you look sane for the first time since - well ever.” His smile faded back to a neutral expression. “Answers. Now.”
"Do you remember anything about your animator Yakko?"
This earned the CEO a sidelong stare. 'More stupid questions.' Yakko thought. 'Did these two switch brains or something?' "What are you getting at?"
"The man was a genius. One of the best. And one of the most insane after he created you three." He glared at Yakko looking more himself for a second.
He continued without waiting for a response. "We found out this man had a family of his own. His great grandson has continued the family tradition of animation. He was obsessed with his great grandfather's works, including you three. He is also every bit the mad genius his great grandfather was."
Yakko was growing more impatient by the second. His foot began tapping on the desk top, long hidden claws starting to poke divots in the smooth surface. ' Why can't people just come out and say what they want?' "Well good for him! A man needs a hobby. Now if there is a point? Make it." His jaw clinched as he fought the urge to let his fangs show.
Sensing things were about to get out of control Plotz tried to wrap things up. "The long and short of it is he created something. He poured his madness and obsession into it. He spent months creating these toon's and well...you will have to meet them. You are probably the only three that could keep up with them anyway. We tried. It’s not going well.”
Yakko was not amused. There was no toon who couldn’t humiliate a human in every physical mental or esoteric category so this did not come as news to him. And bringing up Lon was not eliciting the planned reaction as Yakko scraped deep gouges in Plotz’s desktop. If this was the best they had...
"Uh huh. So you brought us all the way here to tell us sonny boy went and made something you can't keep up with and you want us to keep them under wraps like you have been trying to do to us for the past 78 years. Is that about the size of it?" Yakko sneered disdainfully at the man. He couldn’t figure out why this was pushing so many of his buttons but he had gone from annoyed to ready to flatten this man in seconds. It was bringing out a side of him he had long supressed.
Plotz seemed to think for a second before responding curtly. "Yes. And since you are in a way related, we have decided you are responsible for these three."
"Oh so there is three of them? Look sibs some useful information for once! I do declare." Yakko snarked earning another glare from Plotz that he met with his own, and giggles from Wakko and Dot. Yakko’s expression strongly suggested ‘Don’t.’ He was at his limit with this entitlement. Still the news of new family members was flooring. Worth getting up in the morning for even, though wouldn't let Plotz know that.
"They are in Doctor Scratchansniff's office by now. You three are to go meet them and get them settled in. Living arrangements will be made to cope with the extra crowd and the same agreement made between them and the studio that we have with you."
Plotz sneered at the oldest Warner. "And any trouble they cause is YOUR responsibility Yakko. It's bad enough that you three run rough shod over the lot. With six of you...the thought makes my head hurt."
Yakko smiled. ' Ah he needs something from us and its killing him to ask. Finally room to haggle.' He thought to himself grinning. "Fine Plotzy leave it to us! But in return we would like some ehhhhhhhhhhh concessions made. A compromise if you will."
This enraged the little man and his calm facade crumbled. "Yakko Warner are you blackmailing me!?"
"What? Nooooooo nonono. Yes. Just think of this as an allowance for the extra burden this will put on us, struggling to get by as we are thanks to you." He smiled daggers back at the red faced pygmy.
Plotz thought and grumbled to himself for a moment. "Fine! We will discuss this later! Now go! Get out of my office! And get those crazy toon's under control!" The three Warner's all jumped on Plotz kissing his head, becoming more themselves as they ran out the office door with him screaming at their backs.
"Thanks Plotzy! You won't live to regret it! We promise." Yakko called over his shoulder with a deranged grin, fangs on full display. A reminder. They were on a leash, but they weren’t property.
Doctor Scratchandsniff sighed and followed the three out gesturing down the hall for them to follow him. It was going to be a long day. He was curious himself to meet these new toon's the CEO had spoken of and wondered what they would be like. Though Yakko’s exchange gave him pause. It was not a side of him the doctor had ever seen, and if their Warners were suppressing that much hostility how much worse could these new ones be? The thought made him shudder.
It didn't seem to take as long as it normally does to reach the office. Being carried by three hyper toon's running at full speed didn't hurt things ether. Otto could do nothing but cross his arms and let them have their way. At least it was faster than walking, and he wouldn't be out of breath. He had a feeling he would be doing a lot of talking to soothe frayed nerves. If not the Warner's old and new, than his own and the rest of the staff. Which were prone, as rich people tended to be, to panicy cowardly crulety that often inflamed more problems than it solved. He couldn't predict how this meeting would go and frankly it had him a little more than worried since Plotz had mentioned it. Six Warner's in one room was unprecedented, and more insanity than he thought one structure could handle.
It isn't every day that a new toon walks onto the lot. Let alone to live here. He didn't blame the Warner's for resenting it if that was the source of Yakko’s newfound hostility. He wouldn't want to live in a water tower ether. Their arrangement had always rankled the three and skirted the very edges of legality, providing a large source of friction between WB and Toon Town at large. The only reason it had been allowed to persist was their enhanced freedoms and the resources WB provided the three. It was still an ongoing situation, and debates on toon rights and new legislation trickled in at a slow but consistent pace over the decades, trending toward greater freedoms and rights for what had been previously considered property, little better than indentured servants.
He was once again brought out of his thoughts by a screeching halt. This time by being dropped in front of the door to his office. "Oh thank you, I appreciate being discarded like a sack of potato's."
"You’re welcome!" The trio responded in unison grinning widely. He scowled as he stood and opened the door walking in ahead of the trio. Mostly to get a feel for the room and what the situation was. He could hear conversation screaming and laughing coming from beyond the door which grew louder as it opened. He stopped in his tracks horrified at what he saw. 'Oh no. This is worse than I thought.' The likeness was uncanny.
"Whoa when Plotz said junior was obsessed with his great grand dads work he wasn't kidding." Yakko commented taking in the scene before him, as he pushed around a frozen Scratchandsniff.
The three looked almost exactly like them save a few minor and some major differences. The apparently oldest was reclining in the doctors chair, his hands behind his head grinning widely as the second oldest, a girl in this case? was clawing at Ralph who was struggling with and failing to dislodge the toon beating the crap out of him. The eldest wore what from the door looked like denim jeans and was chewing on a piece of grass or perhaps a toothpick. His hair was a bit longer than the Warners, and stuck out a bit at different angles as though it hadn’t seen a brush since he jumped off the page. He appeared taller and broader of chest than Yakko, but seated as he was it was hard to tell.
The girl in question was Yakko’s height, and looked like she could be maybe in her teens, and wore a pretty yellow sun dress, covered by a black leather jacket covered in patches and metal spikes that looked like it came right out of an 80s punk band. Yakko could imagine that when her face wasn't twisted in sadistic rage as she throttled Ralph she would actually be quite attractive.
The third had the nurse backed into a corner and was leering at her. At least they knew where she was now. All Yakko could tell about him was that he was a little taller than Wakko, and wore a gray hoodie and no pants. His hair was also wildly spiked and his voice was higher than the other two, if his warning growl was any indication.
As the trio and Doctor made their way in the oldest glanced over to them, and his fangy grin grew wider as something passed behind his eyes. Recognition perhaps? Scratchandsniff cleared his throat and everything all at once stopped.
"Ahh. Well ya don't say..." The oldest drawled. His voice had a slight hint of a southern accent but it wasn't that strong. It was also a bit deeper than Yakko's own, but similar in tone. He leaned forward in the chair propping his chin on his hands his own brother and sister looking up from their mutual distractions and turning to the Warner's in slow unison, who regarded them just as closely, Wakko and Dot staying close to Yakko's side.
Yakko was finally able to get a look at the youngest of the three and cringed a little. He looked insane, which for them was saying something, with his mouth curled into an almost to wide grin full of shark like  teeth, claws on his fingers and toes fully extended, with his eyes full of unhinged malice. His hair was indeed spiked and a grey hoodie was all he wore. He looked like a criminally insane taller version of Wakko. He seemed to be staring almost through him his head tilted slightly askew.
Yakko and all other eyes turned to the Doctor as he cleared his throat and spoke. "Ahem. You are zee new arrivals Ja? I would like you to meet your, um, cousins? Zhis is Yakko, Wakko, und Dot. Zhey vill be your room mates und guardians vhile you stay vhis us."
Yakko noticed that when Scratchy was nervous or upset his accent seemed to thicken and he tended to ramble.
With this the oldest one stood and stepped over the desk rather than around it landing deftly in front of Yakko his hand extended. "Well well. We’ve heard a lot about you. The name is Dee. That's my sister Peg and my little brother Psykko. Don't worry hes harmless really, until hes not."
Yakko grinned as he took the new Warner's hand, a bit more in his element. He was indeed about half a head taller than Yakko, broad shoulders and tight ropy muscle hidden more or less by his fur that spoke of someone accustomed to physical labor, his gloves stained a subtle black around the fingertips. His demeanor seemed no less at ease, in contrast to the situation at least. The easy mood he was trying to create however was broken as the one he called Psykko spoke.
"Guardians? So you are our wardens now? Have you come to lock us away?" Psykko barely hid the growl in his high pitched voice his fur standing on end and drool dripping from his chin as his grin grew wider. He seemed to be made of naked hostility. Everything about him was simply unnerving. Yakko couldn't imagine this guy ever being on a kids show. ‘He would probably eat the camera crew.’ Yakko thought.
"Psy be nice now we're all family here apparently." Dee drawled. "I'm sure the studio had a reason for asking us so nicely to come stay on the lot."
"Ask meaning capture and incarcerate us in the middle of the night." Peg finally spoke. Jumping to her brother side leaving Ralph alone for the moment to gasp for air. Her voice was pleasant enough even slightly on the husky side, alluring eyes taking them all in with an almost cold, distant stare. The sadistic rage was gone from her face at least, but she clearly resented the situation. "But Dee is right Psykko, if we have a warden it's that Plotz guy."
At this Psykko seemed to calm a bit, if reluctantly, claws thankfully retracting as he morphed from a pointy fur covered razorblade to something approaching cute. Yakko could feel himself and everyone else in the room relax some in response. He was certain the little guy was about to attack. At least he wasn't drooling any more and some of the hostility left his eyes as he cut his gaze to the floor. Though he still didn't seem at ease. None of them did Yakko noticed. Even Dee seemed at least mildly on edge. Though he did a decent job of hiding it behind his grin, his eyes said otherwise. Humans would miss the cues. Hell Yakko almost did, but it was there, at the edges of a talented but still largely untrained toon trying to shut the world out. At least he was trying to be nice.
"I apologize for my brother, he can be a little emotional before lunch. Tends to bite too. Your guard dog here found that out." Dee thumbed toward Ralph who was cradling his right hand looking none to pleased as his face returned to something resembling a proper color. The poor guy looked for the world like he had been in a prize fight with Mike Tyson bite marks and all.
'None of this feels normal.' Yakko thought. 'Even at our darkest we weren't violent like these guys seem to be. Maybe this Dee guy can keep the other two in line. Or at least keep them from hurting anyone else. I gotta impress on them that much.'
Explanations were made and some mumbled apologies offered as the hours wore on. The Warner cousins weren't a bad lot after all really, even Psykko was somewhat reasonable after getting some food once the adrenaline wore off. And the situation wasn't quite as dire as Scratchandsniff or Plotz had made it out to be to Yakko's ears. Just that their creator was more insane than had first been eluded to. He was currently enduring a stay in a hospital mental ward due to psychosis and mania. Which explained why they were here. Since the animator could no longer take care of his creations they were now the property of his employer (or in this case great grandfather's employer) and would have to stay on premises.
The cousins all agreed to the same arrangement the Warner's were under and after some extended and heated talks with Plotz concessions were made to expand the living space in the tower and give the Warner's and cousins more freedom to roam as long as they didn't destroy to much or interrupt any filming. Which was fine so long as they were allowed to leave the lot to do more interesting things and come and go as they saw fit. They were even able to negotiate several computers and internet connection. Which was something they had been wanting for a while now.
It was a unique situation to be sure but as long as they held to their end of the bargain the Warner's all felt things would be livable at least if not an improvement over their current situation by virtue of said expanded discretionary powers. However Dee had warned Plotz if they tried to back out even a little the studio would pay dearly. They were accustomed to being free to do as they liked without someone looking over their shoulder. It took a lot for them to allow even this much constraint.
The studio for it's part was not entering into this without profit and it was decided that when they knew more about them the company would put the cousins to work in whatever field they had the most talent for. But all this was again to be discussed later.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
"He he! Oh Yakko you're so funny." Her voice is like music. She is so beautiful. Long blond hair glistening in the sun, clear blue eyes, full lips curled sweetly into a perfect smile. Her pale flawless skin seemed to radiate light, and she had curves in all the right places. More importantly she laughed at all his jokes.
Yakko sighed happily. 'Maybe she really is the one. I think this time I’m going to ask her for sure.' He thought grinning to himself. His grin widened as she giggled at a joke he just told, his heart among other things swelling as they both leaned back on a red and white checkered picnic blanket on a hill overlooking San Fernando Valley. The wind blew lightly carrying sweet scents of nature to them and playing through the large curls in her locks.
She leaned over staring at him with bedroom eyes, her hand rubbing his chest softly. Her touch sent waves of electricity and warmth through him and made him reflexively curl his toes. She leaned over, her full pouty lips leaving no doubts to her intention. Yakko sighed again contentedly, leaning his head upward, his lips to meet hers. His heart pounding, his body was primed with excitement. He could feel her warmth radiating through him. Her lips hovered mere fractions of an inch from his, the sweet smell of her perfume filling his lungs!
Their lips lightly brushed before finally-BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM!
"Aw! What the!?" Yakko sat up like a bolt from his bed, his dark sanctuary broken by the repeated knocks against the heavy metal door.
"I swear I’ve heard this joke before - ARGH! Doc that better not be you!" Yakko growled as the incessant rapping continued. He grumbled groping in the dark his pants, again, finding them a little more difficult to get zipped up than he had anticipated. Now embarrassed and cranky he made his way to the door again stumbling over...something hell he didn't care. Yakko kicked at the offending object wildly losing balance in the process and falling over. ‘Oh! Oh this is rich.’ He thought sourly.
This did nothing to improve his mood and he cradled his head as the booming knock continued, sending a look to the front door that he was certain would burn twin holes of hate through it with his barely working eyes. "Yeah I’m coming hold your horses!" Yakko reached the front door finally stumbling the whole way and throwing it open.
'Yup just like I thought.' He glared at Doctor Scratchandsniff through squinting eyes. His hair was a mess and his ears crooked at odd angles. He couldn't imagine that he posed a very intimidating figure to the elderly Austrian. "Do you have any idea what you interrupted doc? I was having the nicest dream until you came along." Yakko bite the words out through clinched teeth.
"Nein but I have zum idea." The Doctor scowled pointing down. This got a start from Yakko who half hid behind the door covering his obvious indiscretion. "S-shut up! What do you want? Don't you ever sleep!?" Yakko blushed infuriated. This is not how he hoped his day would start. But since their little meeting he was there every damn day at 7 on the dot if not earlier.
"I’m here about zhe contractors. Zhey are here. You have been told ja? You vill be moving to temporary living quarters till zhe renovations are done?" Yakko groaned shaking the fuzz from his mind and lingering images of his dream and what was about to happen in it.
"Ok ok but its going to have to wait a few hours. I am NOT about to drag those two out of bed again. Besides we will have to move a lot of stuff anyway and-"
"Zhat is already taken care of." Scratchandsniff interrupted. "Und until zhe work is done you vill be staying vhis those other Warner's on zhe back lot. Zhe place is already furnished und stocked so you von't need much." He seemed all too pleased with his self as he clutched a clipboard flipping through papers back and forth as though examining an itinerary.
Yakko glared at him. This guy had been eating this up since that first day, using every opportunity to get revenge on the Warner trio and embarrass Yakko for driving him crazy in the past. Yakko never though the old man would hold a grudge for so long. 'Serve him right if I had answered the door naked. Maybe he wouldn't be so quick to darken my doorstep again.' Yakko scowled.
"Give us three hours. It will take that long to get packed anyway." Yakko held up a hand to stop the Doctors protests. "We aren't morning people you know that. Now if you will excuse me I have something to go take care of." Yakko closed the door to the Doctor mumbling. "Oh ja I bet you do."
"Shut up!" He called through the door once again embarrassed. He had never blushed so much in his life. 'Be careful bub or you are making my special friend list for the week.' Yakko thought making his way to the bathroom and stumbling over another unidentified thing in the floor.
Three hours, some quality alone time, and two whining sibs later the tower was a den of noise as the three rushed around trying to find everything they would possibly need for the temporary move.
Wakko for his part had decided to simply throw everything in his room into his wacky sac. Which Yakko thought a good enough idea and that they should all do the same. The current argument though was about why Dot thought it was important to bring along all one thousand of her plush toys and why Wakko couldn't bring his movie collection.
"There won't be room!" Wakko protested.
"There would if you wouldn't bring your entire stupid movie collection! Yakko tell em!" Dot stamped her foot stubbornly.
"Guys there’s plenty of room in an unlimited bag for everything. Just bring all of it, we don't have time for this!" Yakko called from his bedroom door. "We aren't going far. We aren't even leaving the lot so we can make several trips if we have to. It isn't like we are moving to Figi or somethin." 'Though I wouldn't mind a trip to Figi about now. Sun, sand, hot island girls, and no creepy old man waking you up at insane hours, mid wet dream.' Yakko's thoughts were interrupted by Dot poking him in the belly.
"We're done." She beamed at him. "And Scratchy is outside again. He said he brought a truck to hold everything."
"Of course Scratchy is outside again. Why wouldn't he be? The man practically lives here anymore." Yakko huffed as Dot looked up at him quizzically.
"Ehhhh never mind. Just tell him we are on our way and I still need to grab a few things." At this Dot zipped out of his room. He could hear her high voice and the Doctor's mumbling through his door.
This situation was driving him nuts. He was becoming more irritable than Daffy Duck without top billing. Yakko shook his head and decided he needed to look on the bright side of things. This at least gave him plenty of motivation for his impending revenge on Scratchy for interrupting his dreams every morning for the past week and a half. He grinned to himself at the images that sprang to mind. "Oh yes. It will be sweet." He mumbled to himself wringing his hands.
The actual move was much easier since nearly everything, furniture included, in the tower had gone into Wakko's sac. He had a knack for overkill. The whole trip took less than thirty minuets and that was with delays and weaving through pedestrian traffic. It would have gone even faster had they gone on foot but Yakko took the opportunity to drive the Doctor a little nuts along the way.
The accommodations weren't grand but they weren't that bad ether. A bungalow of sorts used for some animation project that had been rebuilt with the intention of turning it into a museum. It had never panned out though and the new structure simply sat ignored for years. But it was nice enough he supposed. A bronze plaque sat atop a small pedestal in front of it.
"Termite Terrace. Sounds lovely." Dot quipped reading the plaque.
"It's just a name Dot." The Doctor responded. "I’m surprised you don't remember it. This is vhere you vhere born."
"Will there be enough room though?" Yakko mused aloud. Six people were a lot for one small house. Six toons were a whole nother thing.
Wakko for his part stared blankly at the space. He got bored easily and he wasn't interested in a history lesson. All he wanted right now was something to eat. His head swam with images of things he wanted for lunch. Which comprised most of the menu at the studio cafeteria. He hoped this didn't take to long. Standing there with a dreamy look on his face his tongue hanging out of his mouth he was awakened by being pulled into the old house by Dot.
The animation equipment and displays had all been removed and furniture put in its place. Still the space seemed bare. Most of what was there had come from the studio ware house or sets from other shows. A few suitcases and instruments littered one corner of the room along with amplifiers, cords and stools. Yakko wondered if those belonged to their cousins or if the studio had provided them. The air still smelled stale and felt heavy. And it was strangely quiet. Where were the others?
Soon enough they found out. The three were curled up in the middle of a large bed in the first bedroom snoozing peacefully without a care in the world. Yakko grinned as the chance to pester yet another source of irritation presented it’s self. ‘They look so peaceful, so serene, so what?’ The Warner's weren't allowed to sleep in lately so nether would they.
Standing beside the bed, grinning broadly, Yakko was about to pull out a bucket of cold water when Dee reached up from his spot at the side of the bed pulling him down to the blanket with him, and nosing in his ear his arms wrapped tight around his chest much to Yakko’s dismay. ' Is he awake?'
His question was answered when Dee began giggling in his sleep and mumbling into his ear. "Mmm hey where you goin baby? Heee hee...Come back here and gimme some ...gotta present...Zzzz."
Yakko panicked, flailing pulling on Dee's arms trying to get away from the amorous dreamer. He knew that dream and he wasn't going to stick around for the part where he asked him to sit in Santa's lap. But did his sibs help? Oh no. No. They just sat there laughing and pointing making him look like a jackass. 'The world hates me this week.' Yakko thought sourly.
"Little help here!? This guy is stronger than he looks!" Yakko reached for Wakko who took his hand and started pulling. Eventually Dee released his grip to roll over and the two landed on the floor in a heap. 'At least there is no risk of sodomy here.' Yakko thought to himself, laying in a heap.
In the meantime Dot was trying everything she could think of but nothing seemed to work. Even threats about Baloney got no reaction. These guys were harder to wake up than them. She was finally able to get the youngest one who was curled into a tight ball on the far side of the bed awake by simply whispering the word "Food." in his ear. It worked for Wakko it had to work on one of these chuckle heads eventually.
Psykko woke to someone whispering in his ear. He couldn't tell what it said but the voice sounded familiar. He couldn't place yet. He cracked his eyes open blearily to see the face of the youngest Warner swimming in and out of focus. ' Dot. I think that's her name? '
He groaned and rolled onto his back rubbing at his face stretching before finally sitting up. Sleep had been deep and dreamless. His head felt like someone had stuffed cotton in it. He looked to the small crowd standing in the room, little more than vague shapes on a light background in his state, and grimaced. He really didn't want an audience.
"Whadda ya want? What time is it?" He looked around for a clock but couldn't focus on anything.
"Its almost Eleven AM silly. We're moving in now. Remember everyone talked about this?" Dot responded smiling at him sweetly.
'This was worth waking me up over?' Psykko grunted and slid out of bed oblivious to the fact that he was in his underwear and there was a girl in the room. He stumbled his way to the bathroom pushing past the weird human whom he didn't recall the name of and stepped in closing the door behind him. 'Eleven am...It doesn't feel that late.' He wasn't sure what time it felt like but not eleven. Maybe seven or eight?
He stepped out of the bathroom some thirty minuets later popping his jaw joints and feeling more himself. A shower and some toothpaste worked wonders for his powers of perception if not his mood. He hated how vulnerable all this made him feel. All these new eyes staring at him brought conflicting emotions to the surface. Frankly the whole situation had him on edge. What would become of them?
As movers rushed in and out depositing the Warners belongings wherever there was room, Dee came ambling into what passed for a living room, looking for the world like he just lost a fight with a vacuum cleaner. Usually once one of them was up the rest soon followed automatically. His hair was sticking out at every angle and his ears were crooked. He at least had the presence of mind to throw on a robe though it was sitting crooked on him. Something Psykko didn't much care about at the moment as he was still in his boxers. Someone barges in your house they have no right getting embarrassed about your various stages nudity. But Dee always was the thoughtful one. Bah.
"Put some clothes on will ya?" Dee poked his little brother in the head earning a glare. "And get some coffee going. Feel like I lost a fight with the Tasmanian Devil."
"You look and smell like it to." Psykko grumbled heading back to the room to get dressed.
"Hey now, I took a bath two days ago." Dee muttered looking behind him as movers finally finished their task vanishing as quickly as they appeared. The Warners looked about their new space curiously, not that there was much to see. It would be nice to have some company he had to admit. They would have to get used to this arrangement anyway since, as soon as the tower was done they would be moving there and this place would become a museum again. 'Maybe this time they will actually do something with it instead of let it rot.' WB had no idea the gold mine they sat on.
A couple hours and several cups of coffee later the three were showered dressed and approaching consciousness. Dee was in one corner of the room conversing with the Doctor and Yakko. He had donned a pair of baggy jeans but neglected to procure a shirt. Psykko was off in another corner of the room plucking at a bass absently and staring off into space, and Peg was left with Wakko and Dot to try in vain to find something worth watching on the small television the studio had hurriedly provided. But without cable and no VCR or DVD player it was virtually useless. They settled for HGTV, since Dot seemed the nesting type.
"Zo until zhe tower is finished you six vill all be staying here." Scratchandsniff finished explaining.
"That's fine we all tend to sleep in the same room anyway. Most of the space in here is wasted. This was all explained already though. Just the details are a bit sketchy. Any idea when the renovations will be done?" Dee was back to his self again. Lazy grin, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his baggy jeans. His easy demeanor was hiding, Yakko knew, whatever was really going on in his head. Time enough to puzzle that out later.
Yakko may be young but he wasn't born yesterday. He could spot subtle cues here and there. It was his eyes. It was hard to pick up on but this was the kind of guy that liked to keep his emotions and thoughts to himself. He couldn't tell much though beyond the minor annoyance or other vague expressions that he displayed in their previous meetings. The coming weeks would tell if what Yakko was picking up on was right or not. Till then he would watch this guy, all of them really, carefully. Until he knew them better, relatives or not, he was not going to risk his or his siblings safety. The last thing they needed was a lot wide mallet fight. Or worse.
"It should only take about a month. Most of zhe major work is prefabricated anyvay und zhe contractors vill have only zhis project to verk on. Mr. Plotz vas very clear he vanted zhis done quickly." Scratchandsniff responded. "Till zen make yourselves comfortable. Oh ja, und food vill be delivered shortly as vell. In zhe meantime please get to know each other. Make friends! No fighting, ja?"
"Fighting? Why good sir we are the very picture of diplomacy order and decency." Dee grinned and gestured to the room. If the looks on the others faces were any indication nothing could be further from the truth. He only saw boredom and sarcasm and in Wakko's case hunger.
The Warner's themselves fought a lot in the best of circumstances, and they had been together since the beginning. The Doctor couldn't imagine or even begin to guess how they would all get along with this new dynamic. Maybe he was just being silly. He didn't know for sure. Even other toons had trouble predicting the Warner's.
"Ja...vell if you need anything Yakko you call, ja? I have other appointments so i cannot stay much longer. Good bye now. Und no monkey shtuff!" The Doctor waved as he walked out shutting the door behind him.
'Oh it's going to be a long month.' Yakko thought looking to his taller cousin who just smiled back at him without a word waggling his eyebrows. The new found silence broken only by a single bass note played absently by the youngest cousin.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Music again. Yakko groaned stuffing his head under his pillow. It had been one week since they moved in. Since then they had discovered the cousins true talent lie not in comedy or acting but in music. And they played constantly. At the moment it sounded like Dee fiddling around with some blues riff. But if he was up then it must be late.
Yakko reached from under his nest of blankets and pillows and fumbled for his his alarm clock glaring at the thing. Sure enough it was almost nine am. He groaned and rolled out of the bunk bed he shared with his siblings. There were only two rooms in this place and nether were very large. The studio had delivered the triple bunk that they had used on their show to save space. Seeing it again had brought back a lot of memories from those days. He had to admit he missed them.
Yakko rolled out of his bunk careful not to smack his head against the frame again for the hundredth time. It was smaller than he remembered it being. Slipping his pants on he made his way toward the living room and the source of the music.
Sure enough there was Dee laying back on the couch alternating between a conversation with his sister who was sitting in the one easy chair provided across from him, words broken only by his occasional picking on a faded and beaten Fender Telecaster that was among the few possessions they had with them. The television babbled on in the background unheeded, left on more for the background noise than anything interesting to watch.
Dee looked up from his place on the couch and saw Yakko stumbling in rubbing at his eyes and grinned.
"It lives! By all that is high and mighty I had my doubts. Come on over and have a seat. Engage us in stimulating conversation. Tell us all your best yo mamma jokes." Dee waved to Yakko a little to cheerily to suit him.
'I'm not awake enough to deal with this right now.' Yakko halfheartedly waved at the taller cousin. "You know you would think I would get to sleep in now that Doc isn't beating down my door but ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh no apparently not."
"Yakko Warner you are to damn lazy, and coming from me that's saying something chief." Dee responded with a frown waggling his finger. "When you did your show you never slept in this late. And you were never this grumpy."
"When I did my show I was being paid. I didn't have three annoying cousins keeping me up at all hours of the night ether." Yakko shot back gritting his teeth. "And I'm not grumpy I'm just tired."
"No you lost sleep all on your own back then. I heard your siblings stories about your little late night parties. Oh and the doctor was all to ready to dish too. Romp romp romp ring a bell? Come on old man." Dee chuckled, his eyes half lidded as he idly plucked at his guitar. Even half assed it sounded intricate and flawless.
"I'm not old ether. I'm still just a kid." Yakko frowned.
Dee clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, non plussed."Uh huh. You're ninety years young, you act like a grumpy old man in the mornings, and I’ve seen your little book collection. Didn't see a single coloring book in the pile unless you're drawing in war and peace."
"I'm sorry, is there a reason I'm taking shit from you this early? I'm half awake and hungry, and going to get food now. Keep the noise down or Dot will eat your face for breakfast when she wakes up." Yakko turned on his heel and stalked into the kitchen followed by the sound of Dee muttering “Grumpy.” at his back.
They weren't bad people, Yakko supposed but GOD were they ever annoying. Thinking back on it they reminded him a lot of how they were before Animaniacs. The feel was different though. The humor was darker and more random, the mood on the surface more laid back but under it all they felt like any other toon. Whatever their creator intended when he made them, it didn’t seem that bad.
Dee wasn't as wordy as Yakko but he always seemed to have a comeback or some annoying remark to make at exactly the wrong time, right when it was the most annoying. He and his sister often played off one another bouncing dialog back and forth till it made your head spin. And with the youngest one in the mix it was even worse. Nothing he said ever made sense and he was just unnerving to be around.
Wakko seemed to like him though. Yakko had found the two trading weird faces and showing off their mallets the other night. It was the first time he has seen Psykko genuinely smile and laugh. Which gave Yakko some sense of pride.  Even Peg had opened up readily to Dot. She was crazy, but friendly enough in a female misogynist sort of way. She reminded him of Slappy in a lot of ways only less explosives and more blunt force trauma.
Those little memories gave him hope for these three. If he could only get past that facade Dee kept up constantly. Aggravation wasn't working, he just ignored it or turned it back on him. Joking around and lengthy conversation hadn't worked ether. He got little more than non sequitur, and subject changes whenever he tried to get to close. Yakko was running out of ideas and if they were to live together stably he needed to know he could trust them and that they could get along. This was going to take a lot longer than a month.
He sighed and rummaged through the pantry deciding that he didn't have the presence of mind to make anything more complicated than a bowl of cereal. Grabbing the lone box from the pantry left after the other five eradicated their supply, and sitting at the small round table the studio had provided, he began choking down the sugary confection. He cut a look to the happy obnoxiously colored box. A toon saber tooth cat grinning and flailing his arms wildly while extolling the virtues of "Acme Sugar Things" stared back at him blankly. “They’re food like!” the box exclaimed.
'And they wonder why kids today have so many emotional and weight problems.' He caught himself mid thought shaking his head. Dee was right about one thing. He was acting like a grumpy old man. He needed to calm down and get back to his old self. The whole situation had affected him more than he was willing to admit.
The noise and conversation from the living room had died down. Dee may be a weird jerk but at least he took a hint. Yakko could respect that at least. It was more restraint than he had shown in the past. Quite the opposite. He had lived to drive people who acted like he had been the past week insane. Still did! Maybe that fact alone should tell him more about why his approach was failing.
He sighed and ran his free hand through his hair his musings broken by the now familiar slightly deeper voice at his back. "Hey. We need to talk."
Yakko looked up with a start at the taller cousin. Something about his expression gave him pause. The eyes again. Focused, serious, but something else he couldn't place. They regarded each other for a moment before Yakko spoke.
"Sure what is it?" He watched as Dee stepped a little closer and leaned against the cabinet his arms crossed in front of him.
Dee thought a moment before finally speaking. Yakko looked a bit uneasy at the sudden engagement. He couldn't blame him for that considering the previous conversation. Their relationship had been a bit more antagonistic than he had planned on. He just couldn't seem to stop himself though. Whenever Yakko left an opening he just...took it. He knew their situation hell he could empathize. He would be uncertain too in Yakko's place. Three strange new people just step into their lives after ninety years of just being the Warner trio and they are supposed to be related? Yeah bad week. He had decided to take things easy on the old man from now on.
He and Peg had been talking about that very thing when Yakko had stumbled in bitching and moaning. He still couldn't stop himself from getting a few digs in but after Peg cut him a look that would peel paint he sighed and decided to be a grown up about it. This sucked.
"Yeah. I've talked to Plotz about this already and he ok'd it but I don't really want to bring my sister or brother along. They ain't ready for this but I don't wanna go alone so-" Dee sighed and rubbed his eyes then ran his hand back through his hair. He felt weird. This was harder than he had thought.
Yakko puzzled at this new development. This seemed to sudden. Dee was acting nothing like what he was used to seeing. The smile was gone and his posture slumped. Even his ears seemed to droop.
"Where are we going exactly?" Yakko shoved his half finished cereal aside regarding the fidgeting Warner.
"I’m going to visit our animator." Dee finally spit out. "But like I told you the man is in a hospital and hes out of his mind. I don't want Peg or Psy exposed to that. It never had a good effect on ether of them before he was interned and he's worse now. You don't have to go I just thought I would-"
"Ok." Yakko interrupted.
"Ok?" Dee cut Yakko a sideways look. "Just that easy?"
"Look you said you want someone to come along I'll do it. Come on a psych ward? If it were me I wouldn't want to go alone ether. So ok. I'll go along it's no big deal."
Yakko's smile was genuine for the first time in what felt like days. That he trusted him with this information was no small thing. To any toon their animator is like family, closer even, so he knew it had to be hard on the lot of them to have theirs locked away in a little room somewhere and not know whats going on.
Vague memories of their animator returned unbidden. Yakko recalled his spiral into insanity and how they had carted him off screaming and ranting about corruption and greed. He shuddered as he tried to suppress it. Images of a tortured man bare patches on his scalp from where he had ripped out his own hair, foaming at the mouth and screaming his voice ragged, his face drawn and pale. It had been a bad day for everyone.
It was shortly after that they had been locked in the tower. The studio placed the blame squarely on the Warner's for Lon’s madness and escaped liability themselves. They made a convenient and believable scape goat. Who wouldn't believe that a trio of hyper toon kids could drive a man mad? They had done it a thousand times before to people they hadn't been around a fraction of the time. 
Yakko knew different. It was the studio it's self and the tremendous pressure they placed on the man in their endless quest for profit that eventually drove the man insane. The Warner's made an easy out legally and plausibly. It was cheaper for the executives to lock the three away instead of paying the man back wages or covering for his stay at the asylum. This more than anything is what had fueled the Warner's rampage on the lot. Still did as far as Yakko was concerned. They owed that man, owed the them to. 
Being reminded of these facts in the Warner's gentle fashion is what had prompted the creation of the show. And a contract that had given them the lions share of the profits and a permanent home regardless of the studio's financial condition hadn't hurt ether. Not even Plotz knew the whole truth of it, and Yakko was not about to tell him.
"Say that again when you meet him. This won't be easy for me Yakko. I don't really want to get into this right now but when we are out of the house I'll tell you more." Dee's face looked strained. Something was definitely eating at him.
"Whats this?" Yakko smiled. "Straight talk from Dee?"
Dee chuckled his own easy smile returning."Don't get used to it chief. It don't happen often."
His expression turned serious again as he stared at the wall contemplating the few odd nick knacks the Doctor and Nurse had kindly donated to try to make the space feel more homey. It reminded him of their old place. He missed it but he knew they could never return. That fact alone made all of this, the trip, their relationship, even more important.
"We are leaving tomorrow. Seven am sharp and don't give me that look. Get to bed earlier tonight and you won't be dragging ass in the morning mister grumpy." Dee cut the scowling Warner a look.
"Oh boy." Yakko responded sourly propping his head up against his hand. "Gonna be a day."
"You have no idea chief." Dee grinned momentarily. "I just hope his condition has improved some so I can make sense of him. Scratchandsniff will be by to pick us up and hes going in as well. He said he was curious about our animators psychological condition. Whatever makes him happy as long as we get this over with."
"I wouldn't worry about Scratchy to much. He may be a shrink but he is still clueless enough to keep at arms length if you don’t want to let him in. We never have." Yakko grinned. "He won't dig up to much that you don't want him to find."
"So you do that to eh? So much for my unique groundbreaking approach to shutting out the world." Dee half muttered and half spoke.
Dee's admission caught Yakko a little off guard. It was almost like something he had mumbled to himself several times in the past when things didn't go well or when he let people get to him. Maybe this weird friction really was just a misunderstanding. It wouldn't be the first time Yakko had gotten off on the wrong foot with someone.
The rest of the next days plans were tentatively laid out. Yakko decided he would leave Wakko and Dot behind as well. After some extended explanation from Dee he felt it was for the best. He didn't doubt their ability to cope but it simply made the logistics of the whole affair easier to deal with.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
"Wait what- No. Yeah I- Lady I am the next of kin. No- Transferred? To where?" This was pissing him off. He had called simply to confirm if his animator could accept visits and now this squeaky voiced human. Her voice drilling into his ear like a thousand angry termites she droned on at him that they had moved him to a new facility and she couldn't tell him where because that was privileged information reserved for next of kin.
Yakko watched from the couch as Dee's mood began to move from mild annoyance to anger. He couldn't make out what she was saying from where he sat but it couldn't be good. Again the cues were all in the eyes. He hadn't raised his voice at all. If anything his voice went lower and his hands became more mobile gesturing sharply to the unseeing voice on the other end of the line his tail tip lashing from one side to another.
"I just told you I am the next of kin. Check the paperwork my name is on the damn admission form. Dee. Yeah. Fine I'll wait." Dee drummed his fingers on his leg waiting impatiently for the receptionist to pull up the paperwork.
'This is stupid.' He thought coiling the phone cord around his fingers. 'Why did no one call us or at least call the studio?' His thoughts were broken some minuets later as the high voiced woman returned.
"Yes. No it's ok. Toon Town? Why there? I see. Hold on a second." Dee fumbled for a pen and piece of paper scribbling in the corner to get the ink flowing. "Ok now. Eight seven four two? Ok. Extension eight. Ok got it. Thanks." Dee's mood soured further as he placed the phone back on the hook casting his gaze to the floor as he grasped for some control of the situation.
"Whats the verdict?" Yakko broke the silence tilting his head aside.
"He was transferred to an asylum in Toon Town. Apparently a shrink from some place called Loopy Acres volunteered to house him." Dee spat.
Toons were the only ones that still used the old asylum system to care for the mentally ill. Some of the places weren't pretty ether, more like prisons than hospitals simply because a mad toon was too dangerous to allow within arms reach. He really had wished someone had asked him first. Toon Town was a nearly five hour drive from Burbank with traffic this time of day. He would have to tell the Doctor since this little trip just turned into an all day event.
"They gave me the number so I'm calling there to let them know we're coming." Dee sighed rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Stupid bureaucracy.” 
"Why would a toon shrink want to deal with a human? For that matter why would they house one in a facility made for toons?" Yakko puzzled. "Seems like overkill for a single man."
Dee spoke as he dialed stabbing at the buttons causing the little table the phone rested on to wobble. "Dunno chief. I'm going to find out though."
He put the receiver to his ear staring at the wall. "Like why they never bothered to contact me about it in the first place."
Speaking first to some automated answering machine and finally to a nurse Dee was finally able to get some details about the transfer and arrange a visit with the understanding that they couldn't stay more than an hour at most. All visitors required escort for their safety and there weren't enough people to provide everyone with an unlimited chaperon. And no effort to contact him had been made because they had not received the proper paper work. Feh.
Calling the Doctor next he made him aware of the situation and finally looked to Yakko. "Better pack a change of clothes chief. Unless you want to spend ten hours in a car both ways this just turned into a weekend thing."
While Dee was outside tossing his suitcase in the powder blue minivan Scratchandsniff arrived in. Yakko took the opportunity to tell his sibs what was going on.
"We're gonna back tomorrow morning so try not to panic without me. I know how lost you would be." Yakko grinned embracing his sibs who eagerly returned it. "Try not to bug the cousins to much ether. Till things settle down they’re going to be prickly and unpredictable."
"They aren't that bad Yakko." Wakko looked up at him a concerned look on his face. "The only two having trouble getting along are you and Dee."
"Yeah if you two would just relax and stop chest thumping for a minuet you might actually get along." Dot interjected poking him in the chest. "Really you two are a lot more alike than ether of you want to admit."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Yakko muttered. "Just don't do anything I wouldn't ok?" Getting twin nods from both siblings he smiled and hugged them again standing finally to step outside.
Beside the van Dee was talking to his own little brother as he packed. He seemed to be staring up blankly at him his posture a little off center. Weird kid. Apparently finishing whatever he was saying he leaned down and embraced him and kissed him on the nose. To Yakko's surprise Psykko returned both and even smiled without menace. Maybe he wasn't quite as far gone as he seemed.
Yakko slung his own duffel bag over his shoulder and started toward the van passing Psykko on the way who looked up at him, his teeth producing a sound not unlike scissors opening as he spoke. "Be nice to him. He’s got enough shit to deal with." Psykko warned.
"Ehhhhhhhhh yeah I'll miss you to." Yakko cocked an eyebrow at the shorter cousin.
He watched as Psykko turned and walked back toward the bungalow without a word to lean against his sister who stood in the door her yellow sun dress gleaming in the morning light. At least she waved to him. Yakko smiled and returned the wave stepping up into the van's back seat followed by Dee who shut the door behind them.
"Are ve ready?" The Doctor seemed a little to happy to be making this trip. But when he found out they were going to toon town instead he was elated. He couldn't help but express interest in the chance to compare notes with a toon psychologist and study toons who were at the extremes of emotional distress. He hoped he could gather enough material to even write a paper on the subject. Not to mention the chance to network with toons who worked in his field. This had become much more important to him than simply escorting a couple nutty toon kids to see an animator.
"Yeah man. Just wake me when it's over." Dee lay his head back resting it on his arms while propping his feet against the center console. He hated long road trips. To boring, to noisy, and the vibrations always made him have to pee.
"Ok here ve go then ja?" Pulling out of the lot they made their way quickly into what was predictably a nasty traffic jam. Dee and Yakko both had to chuckle at the irony.
"Hold us back Doc the excitement is killin us." Yakko grinned.
"Whoa slow down there chief you might get pulled over." Dee snickered to himself.
"I think I just saw a snail pass us." Yakko added.
"Are you two done? I thought you didn't like each other ja? Zo what happened to zat?" The doctor drummed his fingers on the steering wheel annoyed.
Both glanced at one another grinning and shrugged in unison. "Change of priorities?” Yakko responded, the doctor grunting in response.
Some thirty minuets later they were at least closer to their exit and merged onto the interstate heading toward Toon Town. After putting up with them this long the Doctor was ready to fling them out a window, but chose instead to drive faster. The sooner the trip was over the sooner they could get back home and Scratchandsniff could get some peace.
Still he wasn't willing to let them ruin the potential this trip promised to further his research. He was giddy at the idea of getting another paper published. He glanced in the rear view mirror to see if they were up to anything but they were talking to each other for once. So much the better. The less he was involved the more sane he could stay.
"Ok so what's got you so bothered about this? Come clean Dee somethin's on your mind, and has been since you asked me to come along for this little field trip." Yakko leaned in looking Dee in the eyes. They had to speak low to keep the Doctor from overhearing. Dee had insisted he stay in the dark about as much as possible.
Yakko could understand that much. They never really had dropped more than subtle hints about their own motivations to Scratchandsniff. If he wasn't smart enough to spot them it was his own loss. Warner's weren't gabby about their personal lives to anyone.
"Ok but you ain't gonna like it chief." Dee sighed rubbing the bridge of his nose again. It was becoming a habit of late, a subtle tell that he had a lot on his mind. Truth was he hated keeping this stuff from his own brother and sister and really did need to get it off his chest.
"Alright. David's mental health had been decaying since before he drew us three. He was obsessed with his great grand dads work, you three, since he first heard about you as a child. You were told all this already." Yakko nodded and Dee continued.
"Well he found a chest in their attic when he was 16 or so that belonged to Lon. It had notes, scribbles, concepts, and some cells from those days but it also had a journal and several letters he had written but never delivered." He waited a second letting this sink in before he continued.
"Well there were things written in his journal that David took kind of personal. When he made the three of us he always said we were destined for great things, that we would change the world. He would ramble on about it for hours. Frankly over time the things he said got more militant and random. He was losing focus and becoming more fanatical."
As Yakko listened Dee went into detail about his animator David's spiral into delusion and psychosis. The story sounded so familiar. A family history of chemical imbalance combined with an angry disenfranchised and highly talented teenager disowned by most people his own age. It was a perfect storm that resulted in these three. His obsession made manifest. The only missing piece, the one that Dee himself couldn't answer was the why. To what end? Change the world how? Dee couldn't answer but he had some clues.
"The situation was affecting Peg and Psykko in ways I didn't like. He was always getting them wound up too tight. He advocated murder Yakko. He tried to make my little brother a killer. Do you know what they do to toons who kill humans? I didn't want to see that happen to him, I-"
Dee paused and took a deep breath and prepared himself for- he didn't know what. A punch in the face or a screaming match maybe he didn't know how Yakko would react to what he was about to say. This sucked.
"I'm the one that called the police and the hospital and had David taken away. I'm the one that called the studio and told them about us. I'm the reason we barged into your lives and why your home is unlivable right now. If you have anyone to blame for all this it's me."
Dee slumped back in his seat idly rubbing his fingers over his palms staring at the floor. Yakko couldn't respond. He sat back and regarded his cousin carefully looking for any sign of deceit but he found none. He sold out his animator, this David guy, to save his family. What kind of sick joke would put a toon in that position?
Yakko thought back to their meeting and the events of the past week. In the office Dee had been the only one not fighting, Dee had always tried to fade into the background, as toons go, and never answered any real questions seriously even Yakko’s. It made sense but it still struck him as the worst twist of fate he had ever heard. Could Yakko have made that choice and remained so calm about it?
He thought back again on their relationship with their animator and how things ultimately ended. How many times they had broken out simply to visit his grave, how many sleepless nights he had spent quietly crying and cursing everyone who had anything to do with their situation. Dee had no one to blame but himself. Yakko couldn't imagine what was going on inside him right now. How do you make that choice between family and creator and ever remain sane?
"Your not lying...are you?" Yakko's question was purely rhetorical. He knew he wasn't. No toon would joke about this, even the most unhinged toon loved and respected their creator.
Dee didn't speak. He looked deflated and beaten. His eyes glistened as tears threatened the last vestiges of his dignity. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath some semblance of control returning.
"I wish I was. You see now why I couldn't bring Peg and Psy along. I can't let them be a part of this. They wouldn't handle it well. Especially Psykko, he was his favorite. But I had to get them away from him. If we're gonna have any kind of future David can't be a part of it. It doesn't mean I don't love him, but I can't let him be around them ether."
Dee's voice grew resolute. Yakko was betting he had told himself this a million times.
"So that's the reason for the visit? To tell him that?" Yakko's own voice remained low, careful not to alert the doctor. He couldn't think of anything to say that would make this conversation more comfortable for ether of them. Anything he could say would come off as sentimental claptrap. He decided at that moment however he would do whatever he could to help.
"Partly." Dee confirmed. "And I wanted to see if he would improve any but the way the Doctor at the asylum talked he was worse if anything." Dee sighed. "Yakko I don't know what to expect when we get there. I don't know what he will say to me or you. If you're not comfortable with this you can stay with the doctor. I've made my bed and I'll lie in it but I don't see any sense in dragging you into it."
"I've come this far I'm not about to leave you hanging." Yakko half smiled nudging his cousin gently. "Family doesn't back out on family."
At this Dee smiled and nodded. He couldn't form words anymore so it would have to do for the time being until he settled down.
Loopy Acres wasn't too bad as toon asylums went. At least it didn’t give off Arkham vibes. A large white wall broken only by observation towers and a large solid iron gate enclosed a pleasant looking yard dotted with trees and an expanse of green grass that rolled gently up a hill upon which the asylum sat. The building its self was featureless. It looked like a giant white lego block someone dropped on the top of the hill, its surface dotted with windows he knew were barred. It's perfect white facade marred by streaks of rust around each window. It gave the otherwise picturesque scene a disturbed look that tugged at his nerves.
Dee cringed inwardly as the building slowly filled his view. He hated places like this. Hospitals, prisons, asylums, they all felt the same to him and he fought down butterflies as his stomach tied its self in knots.
Outwardly he tried to give no sign that anything was amiss. He had learned long ago that situations only escalated out of control if you let them get to you. Show the first sign of weakness and the circumstance controls you. You can only react instead of acting. It's a dangerous position to be in. Things never went well when he lost it, and he couldn't afford that here. Things had to go smoothly. The meeting would be stressful enough without him getting emotional.
This place gave Yakko the creeps. Oh it looked pleasant enough on the outside, clean at least, but there was just something about the place that made him want to turn around and go back the way he came. There had been a time when Scratchandsniff wanted he Wakko and Dot interned in a toon asylum. It had only been when they opened up to him a little and toned down their craziness a tiny bit that he relented. Yakko couldn't imagine spending a day here let alone years locked in some tiny featureless room with a bunch of screaming loonies as your neighbors.
As they pulled up to the buildings entrance he reminded his self to keep a closer eye on Scratchandsniff when they got back. No way was he ever going to a place like ever.
Scratchandsniff for his part thought the place was beautiful. Perfect white walls framing a pleasant yard where the staff coordinated activities for the patents and made sure everyone got in plenty of fresh air and physical activity. The facility was large and no doubt well supplied with a rotating staff of doctors and nurses. They had access to all the latest therapy methods and attracted the best of the field to provide the cutting edge in mental health treatment.
Arriving at the front door he sighed wistfully stepping out of the van. If only he could arrange a tour of duty in such a place. The things he could learn from the experience would be priceless in his pursuit of understanding the Warner's. Understanding after all was half of the cure. He caught Yakko's gaze as he stepped out of the back, white gravel crunching underfoot.
"Don't even think about it Doc." He warned.
Dee stepped out shortly after cutting the Doctor a similar look but didn't speak. He looked up at the large sterile entrance and fought down another shudder. It was his fault David was in this place the least he could do is walk in the damn door and tell him why face to face. He owed him that much.
Shortly after stepping out of the van the door creaked open and a small rodent toon of some kind stepped up to Doctor Scratchandsniff extending a hand.
"You are Doctor Otto Scratchandsniff I assume?" His voice was devoid of any inflection. His personality as sterile as the building he just came out of. Scratchandsniff took the offered hand graciously feeling in his element for the first time in years. "Ja I am Doctor Scratchandsniff. How do you do?"
"I am fine thank you. Gentlemen if you will come this way I will arrange an escort to take you to see your friend as soon as possible." He stepped evenly back through the door his every stiff movement seemed calculated and cold.
'This guy is a slime.' Dee thought sourly. ' Prissy little bastard probably has a bdsm dungeon, and likes to get flogged while dressed in women’s lingerie just to feel some kind of emotion." He cut his eyes to Yakko his expression telling of similar thoughts.
The creepy rodent thing lead them into a central waiting room each wall and the center of the room lined with rows of stainless steel chairs that looked about as comfortable to sit on as a rusty nail. Dee and Yakko opted to stand while the Doctor perched his self on one of the monstrosities daintily. The air smelled like sanitizers but little else. Everything felt to clean and there was a slight chill in the air.
The three made uncomfortable small talk while waiting. They didn't have long to wait however as a burly irritable looking bison toon in a white uniform ducked through the door and motioned them to follow him.
"You got one hour with the guy. If he flips out he goes back to his room right then and there. No arguments." His voice boomed in the bare hallways echoing off of every surface like thunder. His uniform barely fit him and every muscle and sinew was visible under his shirt.
'Another slime bag.' Dee thought. 'If someone ever tries to put me in this place I'm just going to get Psy to chew my head off right then and there.'
They finally came to a door marked "Visitation" and the bison slid a card through an electronic lock beside it. The door opened with an audible click and he motioned them inside. The inside of this room was equally sterile but slightly darker which wasn't saying much. The far wall had a large window but the glass was frosted opaque and the surface crisscrossed with a steel grate. The room was split in half. Much like a visitation room in a prison the patent was separated from the visitor by a thick glass wall broken only by voice activated microphones and speakers. Chairs were arranged in front of the glass wall at regular intervals. There was no one else in the room.
If rooms had emotions this one would be screaming. It just felt unsettled. Even the Doctor looked uncomfortable. He spoke quietly with the bison who nodded and motioned him back out the door. He wouldn't be present for the meeting but everything was probably being recorded anyway. The bison toon remained.
Yakko and Dee looked to each other and swallowed hard. Nether liked this place one damn bit and it showed. There was another audible click though this time from the other side of the wall. A door opened and Dee's breath caught in his throat. 'David what did they do to you man?' David was escorted in by a large Grey wolf toon with a slightly more pleasant expression than the grumpy bison had.
His once long black hair had been shaved close. Bare patches shown on each side of his head where he had been pulling his own hair out. He wore a one piece white uniform with a number stamped on the left front pocket that identified both patent and room number. His skin was pale and dark circles under his eyes spoke of insomnia and distress. His hands were bound in front of him.
Dee could feel Yakko cringe at his side as he slumped into the nearest chair his whole body numb. It's cold unyielding surface doing nothing to comfort what was going on inside him. He may as well be sitting on a block of ice.
The wolf toon placed David in the seat across from Dee and stood behind the human leaning against the far wall. Till then he had nether spoken or even indicated that he had seen his creation. He slumped in the chair wordlessly his head slowly rocking from side to side. Dee swallowed hard at the knot in his throat and finally croaked out his name. It's his fault David was here.
"David? David its me. It's Dee." The head stopped moving but he got no further response. "David we came to see you. I- we wanted to talk. We haven't spoken s-since-"
"Since you sold me out." He finally spoke his posture stiffening. His voice was hollow and ragged. He sounded as if he had been screaming and his voice hadn't completely returned.
"Well well well if it isn't the little traitor Dee. My greatest creation. My greatest disappointment." With every word Dee cringed his hands visibly shaking. He tried to put up a strong front but between accusation and his own guilt he couldn't manage it.
"You know I had so much hope for you three. You most of all. You were special. You were unique." David snorted laughing to himself bitterly now. "But now what? Brutus kills Caesar now he weeps over his grave? Tell me do they haunt you at night? Those ghosts of what could have been? Can you feel my disappointment? How can you answer for that Dee? How do you atone?" Davids drawn face was twisted into a hateful snarl as he looked down at his creation, his son. "Thou hast sinned against your creator. I should never have drawn you."
Dee let out a ragged breath unable to stop emotions he had held back for to long. Looking up finally with tears staining his cheeks he spoke in as clear a voice as he could manage.
"I atoned by saving my family from you David. You would have gotten people killed, so I made a choice. You will never get close to them again. Do your own dirty work. I came here to tell you that." Dee's voice grew only slightly more stable as he spoke. This was the worst case scenario. He hadn't expected him to be this far gone.
"And to ask you why. Why us? Why did you try to twist Psykko like you did? Why did you make us look like the Warner's? Whats the point behind all this?" Dee's voice grew from a whisper to a near yell with each question the Bison in the corner uncrossing his arms and standing upright scowling.
"Why? Why. Yeah." That laugh again. "He knows."
David looked past Dee staring at Yakko. His penetrating eyes and full of accusation. "He's the original. The master mold, the genesis, the prototype. He is our families retribution, our revenge. Him and the other two. Something you wouldn't know anything about."
Yakko spoke up without thinking. "Look pal I don't know what got you so screwed up and frankly I don't care, but don't talk about that man like you knew him. You didn't. I did. We aren't tools we're toons. The last thing he ever wanted was for any of us to hurt anyone. And stop talking about me and my sibs like we're some kind of weapon."
"Aren't you? What better weapon than a toon? What better revenge than to turn a toy against it's child?" David didn't look at Yakko again but his face was curled into a sick smile. His teeth were stained with blood from chewing a holes in his own cheeks.
This poor excuse for a human was making Yakko sick and he fought down his own anger at someone speaking so freely about his animator. Feelings he thought long suppressed boiling to the surface like an open wound. The only thing keeping him from flattening this creep was the glass divider and that dopey bison. He was sure he could handle both but Dee broke his concentration by holding up a now steady hand.
Dee's own expression grew cold. He regarded the tortured human through the inch thick glass as if studying a specimen in a lab. He felt the emotion drain from him. His respect for this person lost. 'He's just another man now. Nothing more. The David I knew is dead. I can live with this.'
"If you ever manage to get out of here David I'm giving you fair warning. Stay away from us. I won't let you get to them. I'll do whatever I have to to make sure that doesn't happen." Dee stood looking down his nose at David who had resumed staring at the floor, weaving his head to and fro mumbling to himself incoherently.
He looked to the bison toon who eyed him warily. His voice held an edge it hadn't before that matched his mood and made the larger toon flinch. "We're done here. You can show us out now." Never had he so desired to leave a place. This would be the last time he came here if he had anything to say about it.
It was another three hours before Doctor Scratchandsniff was ready to leave. And even then he was reluctant. He had spoken to only a handful of the other Doctors at the facility but it would have to be enough. Dee and Yakko had opted to wait outside as far from the building as possible.
He spotted them sitting under a nearby tree, Yakko speaking to a distraught Dee his hand resting on his back who simply nodded staring at the ground. This gave the Doctor pause. It was rare that he ever saw Yakko's sincere side and had to wonder what had been said to cause the till now inscrutable Dee to appear so depressed.
The two looked up and saw him watching and immediately stood. The Doctor cleared his throat and motioned back to the van being too far out of earshot to call to them without yelling. He felt in this setting it would be inappropriate. They simply nodded and followed him climbing into the van without preamble.
The drive out felt awkward and something hung in the air that made the Doctor uncomfortable. It was only after they were well away from the asylum that the mood relaxed at all which wasn't saying much. Dee leaned against the window staring out at the ever changing view while Yakko sat deep in thought his brow knitting occasionally.
Scratchandsniff decided against trying to make small talk. It was too soon for that. He reached into his pocket running a finger along the small stack of business cards he had been given by the various Doctors he spoke to. He would be making further trips here in his free time.