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Nobody talked about the unspoken thing between Bugs and Daffy. Nobody talked about the fights that felt more like flirting, or the longing glances, or the nights spent by just the two of them. Why would they? It was Bugs Bunny, you didn't talk about stuff like that about him. Even during that short whatever he had with Lola, nobody in the studio talked about it. The paparazzi did, sure, but no one else. It was just something that didn't happen as far as they were concerned.
Nobody spoke about it, but everybody had their thoughts.
Porky could remember the first time they worked together, really worked together. He wasn't supposed to be there technically but Daffy claimed he needed the moral support. Even before he met Bugs Daffy hated him and he wasn't shy about letting anyone know it. Porky could never see why, but it was important to let Daffy be himself and not stifle him.
Anyways, Bugs always had a presence about him and being near him let Porky see exactly why. Everyone was drawn to him, Porky himself included, and he practically oozed charm.
The only one who wasn't sold was Daffy. Every time Bugs said something or made someone smile and laugh, he was rolling his eyes or making a scathing remark. Every time the director told Daffy to let Bugs win he refused to and it drove everyone mad quickly. Everyone but Bugs. In fact, he did something Bugs Bunny had never done before, he had worked with someone, and they both beat Elmer.
They started being paired together more. Daffy complained about it to him constantly but Porky could tell he liked the change of pace. And whenever he watched them act Porky noticed something- There was a different kind of amusement in Bugs' eyes than with his other adversaries, an almost fond kind.
When he asked Bugs about it he told him he, "liked how unpredictable Daffy was." and, well, that was a first for Porky. He could count on one hand the amount of people who liked Daffy and he only had to use one finger before that revelation. And Daffy would swear up and down that he detested Bugs, but he spent an awfully lot of time with him to truly hate him.
He didn't know what was going on between them, and he was pretty sure they didn't either, but he knew there was more than either of them were saying.
Elmer could also remember the first time they worked together, but mainly because it was against him. It wasn't his first foray against either of them but it was his first time seeing a new side of them, a side only the other could bring out. Daffy was annoying, and bitter, and every time Elmer had to shoot something with him he dreaded it, but whenever he was around Bugs that was brought up to an eleven and everybody suffered for it. Except Bugs. He seemed to take some sadistic pleasure in riling Daffy up, like he simply didn't care that everyone else was annoyed by it. Or maybe he did, that wascawwy wabbit always seemed to get a kick out of everyone's misery.
Bugs was charming- but in a way that made it seem like he thought he was better than you, and slippery, and every time Elmer had to shoot something with him he dreaded it -but for a different reason. But whenever he was around Daffy his smiles seemed more genuine and his jabs were more affectionate than malice-based. But the duck never noticed. All he saw was someone who thought he was better than Daffy and acted accordingly. Like he didn't care about Bugs at all, like he didn't go anywhere with the wabbit anytime he asked.
It didn't make any sense to Elmer, they didn't make any sense to Elmer, and if he thought about it for too long it annoyed the hell out of him. But he didn't dare confront either of them about it. No, he didn't spend more time around them than he had to, for his own sanity more than anything. Plus, it just wasn't something you did, Bugs was untouchable and Daffy had a way of making you feel stupid for even thinking about it.
They were made for each other.
Sylvester could remember the first time he saw them together, outside of acting. He could remember it because it was the first time he'd ever seen Bugs with someone who wasn't part of the crew when he wasn't acting. Sylvester didn't think he had any friends. Although, he also didn't think what he saw could be described as friendship.
Daffy had been too mad at talking to Bugs for Sylvester to think they were friends. But the part that intrigued him was that Bugs was putting up with it, usually when someone -usually Elmer or Sam- was complaining to him he shut it down. Not meanly no, he was very careful about how he did it, but it was always shutdown. But he was listening to Daffy, bantering with him, it was very strange to Sylvester.
He didn't seem like he was taking Daffy seriously, but that was none of Sylvester's concern.
He saw them hanging out more. He saw them have lunch together, he saw them going into each others dressing rooms, he saw them leave and come to the studio together. He saw and he wondered. And he knew he wasn't the only one.
Marvin could remember the first time he heard about them like that. It was preposterous, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck- a couple? Or even friends? Just preposterous. They had acted together a few times, but so had lot of toons, that didn't mean anything was going on. Earthlings, honestly.
Then he saw them.
It was at a company party, the kind everyone always secretly dreaded going to but knew it was necessary to keep doing what they were doing. Nobody complained more than Daffy. And it seemed he had finally found someone to listen to said complaints. Someone who apparently had complaints of his own.
Watching them together was magnetic, they bounced off of each other so effortlessly. Marvin could see why their crew was eager to pair the two of them up. Watching them together he could finally see what the others saw.
Daffy Duck was the only person who could keep up with Bugs Bunny.
Lola could remember the first time she met Bugs. She knew she was supposed to be Bugs' love interest but she also knew she never had a chance. Right from the start he had no interest in her, she was just like everyone else to him. It made filming difficult, but they were both professionals and they made it through it.
She could also remember the first time she 'met' Daffy, because he was screaming at their director. About what she couldn't remember but everyone looked used to it so she didn't do anything. Daffy was.... well, daffy. He perfectly embodied a Warners Brothers toon so she couldn't see why everybody hated him. She also couldn't see why he hated Bugs but it seemed to be a cover for something, and completely genuine at the same time. Enigma. Both of them.
But not enough to where she didn't know what was going on. It was clear they had romantic feelings for each other, it was also clear they had no idea. Bugs wasn't the type to really think about stuff like that and Daffy had too much resentment for him to even consider it. But the feelings were still there, and everyone could see it.
Even if nobody had a name for what they were, for what their feelings were, they all knew the two of them belonged together. In one way or another. So yeah, Lola never had a chance, but she was okay with that. Bugs was.... not her type. She'd never be able to put up with someone like that, not like Daffy could. Then again, they were the only two who saw the real Bugs. She was sure a lot of people were dying to put up with the fake Bugs.
It'd never last though. He'd get bored and then they'd be gone like *that*. The only person she could see him having a stable relationship with was... Daffy. Huh.
Bugs could remember the first time he kissed Daffy. It was surprisingly not for a short but a spur of the moment thing. They were walking to Bugs' burrow one night and Daffy was laughing about something. Bugs couldn't tell you what, just that he looked sublime. So he went for it.
It only lasted a few seconds but Daffy definitely kissed him back- no matter how many times he denied it. It was something, and it was nothing. And they never talked about it, but both felt a shift.
He had always been fond of Daffy, that was a secret to no one, and the two of them had gotten very close over the years. But neither were the type to consider romance, not the kind lasting beyond a quick gag or bit, it just wasn't in them. He couldn't tell you why he kissed Daffy, really, he just knew he wanted to so he did it. Daffy made him want to act spontaneous and for someone who always planned everything out he wasn't sure he liked it. But he didn't hate it either.
The duck was always good at that, making things complicated for Bugs. It kept him coming back, that was for sure. There was just something about Daffy... He was unlike any one Bugs had ever met, he made Bugs do things he would never consider doing- feel things he never thought he would feel, he brought out a side of Bugs no one ever had.
There was a word for that. What was it?
Daffy could remember the first time Bugs let his guard down around him. It was the first time Daffy actually liked the guy, which he detested, but seeing him vulnerable... How could Daffy not like him? He had never been Bugs' biggest fan, a secret to no one, and it was largely because of his facade. (It was mostly due to his spotlight stealing but he stopped fighting that fight long ago, resigned to be second best forever.) How he tricked everyone into thinking he was someone he wasn't, that he was better than he actually was. That he was untouchable. Oh, no, he was far from untouchable, Daffy had seen it himself.
So once Bugs' facade was gone... to the surprise of everyone Daffy found himself being actual friends with the guy. He still rolled his eyes and had a retort for every jab thrown his way of course, it wasn't like the facade completely vanished after all, but he was more likely to laugh at his jokes and banter with him now. It was... weird. His bitterness hadn't gone anywhere, nor had his resentment, but he didn't outright hate the guy anymore. It was more... complicated now.
He wasn't sure what he wanted from Bugs really. Some recognition would be nice, or even respect, but the more he thought about it the more he realized he already had it from Bugs. He didn't outright say it no, Bugs would die before he did that, it showed in his actions. And that was enough for Daffy. It had to be. Being back in the spotlight would be a dream come true, or something as simple as having a win, but he didn't want help for that. He'd do it himself. Maybe he just wanted someone who got it. Porky was great, sometimes, but he didn't really understand Daffy. And he needed that connection. Bugs -for all his faults- understood him, and maybe that was enough.
Or it was until that damn kiss.
After that Daffy wanted more, not that he'd ever admit it, and he often wondered about what it'd be like to do it again. He... didn't know how Bugs felt about it. Bugs was the one to initiate it, which meant something, but Daffy could never quite figure out if it was completely sincere or not. So he never asked, not really wanting to know what the answer was. Things were good between them right now, either answer would change things and neither of them wanted that.
Things were unspoken for a reason.