Chapter Text
Road to Trust Ch 1. The Car Ride
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After the long, winding, and worn road that led through the outskirts of the city, the dive bar appeared. Amassed with cars and motorbikes it boasted a weathered porch, paint-peeling walls, and flickering neon signs. As much as Daffy enjoyed hanging out with his childhood friend, sometimes her job worried him. Tina’s side gig as a glorified taxi service wasn’t glamorous but it was a fun way to spend an afternoon, at least she always said as much.
Despite it being four o’clock in the afternoon, many patrons appeared too drunk to stand. Daffy grimaced at the scene as Tina finished pulling up. The scent of stale beer and cigarettes hung in the air as they stepped out and stood in front of the ragged joint. “They really make car shares come all the way out here? You gotta quit ACMEGO and apply yourself.”
She held back a laugh. “They don’t make me! I go where people need me.” She giggled but it was strained, “Is your brilliant mind struggling to understand why people like hanging out?” He felt like there was more to her statement but he couldn’t decipher it.
He blew a raspberry, she took up being a librarian and a taxi for strangers, while he became a professor at a prestigious university. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He paused, “I’m hanging out with you right now after all, I just wouldn’t have picked this kinda place to…hang out in...”
Daffy rubbed the back of his neck nervously. The bar was actually familiar to him, he’d been once or twice back in his youth.
Tina checked her phone and waited. “Well we aren’t staying long and yeah, bars gotta get their clientele home if you know what I mean, cause they can't drive themselves most nights.” She then typed into an app that looked like a menu. “You hungry?”
He was confused at the question, “No?” He shied away as some burly folks walked past, feeling out of place in his suit jacket and turtleneck. He adjusted his glasses and tugged at his lapels, “It's all so familiar...”
She smirked. “What? Thinking you should’ve stayed home? Bringing back too many memories of your rockn’ past?”
“Psh, no. This beats being home.”
“Yeah~ Maybe you’ll find a new boyfriend.” She grinned.
Daffy flushed and changed the subject. “Yeah maybe, but I like your side hustle, you get to meet so many interesting characters.”
“Is that what you call it?”
“Yeah, so maybe you’ll get a boyfriend outta this.”
She laughed and looked at her phone, seeing that her patron was close. “Well my somewhat usual pick up is today.”
An ox shouted, “Get in the car bub!” As he led a gray furred rabbit out the front door, Daffy watched with a mix of curiosity and concern.
The rabbit snarled back, “Fine!” He didn’t appear drunk but apparently the owner of the bar insisted. He had on a leather vest with pins and patches, with biker gloves to match, he also sported an ironic flaming carrot tattoo. Tina unlocked the car as her pick up was led to it. The rabbit hopped in and crossed his arms in the seat.
A waitress then came out. “Order for Tina!” Before handing off a to-go bag. “Here you go hun.”
Daffy blinked as the woman left. “Who gets takeout from this kind of place?”
Tina smiled at the bag and waved as thanks before getting into the car with Daffy. “Hey, their hot wings and fries are really good.” Daffy took the passenger seat and held Tina’s order.
The rabbit agreed about the food, “I'll give you that Doc,” before he sat more comfortably in the back seat and adjusted his leather vest.
Tina looked at her phone and then at the back seat. “So, Bugs, where to?”
“Eh, take me over to Maple and Vine would ya?”
“You got it.”
Daffy couldn't help but wonder about the rabbit as he stole a glance. Bugs crossed his arms and leaned back, exuding an air of defiance and ire from apparently being kicked out. The duck desperately wanted to ask why since he seemed sober. When their eyes met the rabbit winked and Daffy quickly turned back around as Tina turned the car onto the highway.
Daffy recognized him.
Bugs leaned forward and stared at Daffy. “I've never seen you around here before. You don’t really fit in Doc.” He eyed him up and down. “And yet-”
“Well I don’t usually come up here.” He looked away nervously. “I usually stay in the valley where I teach.”
“A teacher?” The rabbit leaned closer.
“Professor actually.”
“Ouu~”
Tina laughed at the exchange. “Yeah, he’s fancyyy.”
Daffy couldn’t tell if Bugs was genuinely impressed or making fun of him. “Yes well-”
The rabbit smirked. “I don’t usually go for book worms or stuffy types.”
Daffy adjusted his coat, already self conscious. He wanted to quip back with how punk rabbits weren’t his type either, but that wasn’t entirely true. He managed out, “I’m not a square or anything,” truth be told, he was though. His teenage years as a punk had long since been scrubbed off him, he had changed.
The rabbit giggled, “A square ? Really Doc?” The rabbit eyed his red turtleneck sweater. “You fit the part.”
Daffy blinked and tried to hold the bag closer to his chest. “I didn’t always look like this.”
Bugs raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“Yes, I used to be wild!” He didn't know why he was trying to defend himself so badly.
Tina laughed, “Wild?”
“Yes! I had-have- a bike and everything.”
She rolled her eyes. “It's been in your garage forever.”
Bugs added in through the rearview mirror, “Then why are we rideshare buddies right now? What made you give it up?”
Daffy didn’t want to clarify, he also didn’t want to explain that Tina was just a friend, or analyze why he felt compelled to even make that clear. So he replied, “I...had to get a job. I wanted one that would let me help people and-”
Bugs cut him off, “What a maroon.”
Daffy felt a prickle of anger. “It wants a change, its-”
“A worthy cause, bla bla.” He took on a serious voice, “They got to you.”
Daffy turned backward to question him, “ They ?”
“Eh, the system, the man, they tricked you into teaching stuffy rich kids.”
“Th-that's not at all what I do!”
Tina kept her beak closed and tried not to giggle as she continued to drive.
Bugs added, “Oh yeah? How many trust fund babies had their parents pay to get them into that valley college, eh?” He then sat up straighter and gasped. “Wait. The only college out there is Landonton.”
Tina shimmied her shoulders and added in a singsong voice, “Go Daisies!” The flower was the school’s mascot.
Daffy adjusted his glasses. “L.U. is a prestigious institute of learning. When classes resume this Fall-”
Bugs tapped his beak. “Oh yeah, the man has you good.” Daffy flushed and pulled away, turning to look back out the front windshield. Bugs sat back and asked, “You know you do seem familiar but I can’t quite place it.”
Daffy bit his cheek. “I’m sure I don’t.”
Bugs smirked, recognition in his eyes finally arriving. “So what are you teaching, Prof?”
Daffy tapped on the takeout containers. “I’m set to teach art history this semester as well as-”
Bugs laughed and cut him off, “Art? History?” Daffy’s feathers puffed up and he flinched when Bugs leaned in close beside his headrest again. “Well do go on, tell me something interesting about the history of art, Doc.” He took out a carrot and munched down on it loudly.
Daffy sighed through his nose. Bugs smelled like carrots and some kind of cologne, or maybe just engine grease and public restroom soap. “Well the first class is in a few weeks and will cover art-” Daffy paused when he noticed Bugs eyeing him up and down. “-f-from around the world-”
Bugs smirked and ran his finger along Daffy’s bill. “I bet I could rock your world.” Daffy flushed and it caused his feathers to stand on end in embarrassment. Bugs winked, “For old times sake.”
Old memories flooded Daffy’s brain, of when he would joy ride around town, occasionally hook up with randos at bars, and-
Tina hadn’t apparently heard them as she suddenly stated, “Maple and Vine,” before she slowed the car down. “Your drop off Bugs.”
“Oh?” The rabbit looked out the window and moved away from Daffy. “‘Tanks!” He hopped out and Daffy sighed with relief, yet yearning just as quickly popped up.
Daffy saw Tina’s phone light up with confirmation and payment, as well as a little picture of the punk looking smug in the profile photo. It was Bugs alright.
The rabbit went around to Tina’s side and waved them off. “If I win my bike back I won’t need another ride.”
Tina waved him away as he disappeared down an alley. “Good luck!” She then drove away and quickly fiddled with the containers Daffy was holding. “He seemed better this time,” she said between mouthfuls of fries.
Daffy was conflicted, now he wanted to take his bike out of his garage when he got home. He also had a budding desire to get frisky with his old hook up, Bugs. He took off his jacket and asked nervously, “And you said you’ve seen him before?”
She nodded. “Sometimes. I think he gambles a lot and bets his hog, and when he loses he ends up with ride shares, you know, like he said.” She then ribbed him with her elbow in a tease. “Why? You wanna join me again if I pick him up?”
Daffy dismissed her, “Certainly not.” If he never saw the rabbit again it would be for the best. He then stole some fries.
“Hey!”