Chapter Text
Darkwing Duck is his own hero. He’s a capable hero. He’s the embodiment of justice—armed with just two fists and an unwavering spirit. Darkwing Duck doesn’t lose against nobodies who only have some fancy-shmancy tech.
Except, apparently, he does.
Look. If you asked him, the only reason that he failed is because of Gizmoduck. He’s a fool at the best of times, so it’s no wonder that with his ‘help’ everything went wrong. All it takes is one misfired pie (which hits Darkwing on the beak, causing him to trip and stumble over his cape, and knock down Gizmoduck as he attempts to catch him) to allow the villain the advantage.
Said villain used the advantage to active her doohickey, sending the three of them hurtling though some sort of vortex. Only for them to end up in Duckburg, villain no where in sight. Also, for the record, Darkwing did not get motion sick from the vortex, and didn’t throw up over the side of the building they were on.
To no ones surprise, Darkwing couldn’t pin-point exactly where in Duckburg they were. It seemed like somewhere in the financial district, but Darkwing couldn’t find the iconic (but not loved) Glomgold Industries building.
Luckily, the hero beside him finally began to stir (after the inertia of the vortex knocked him out). The Duckburg native should be able to provide some insight into where they were, even if he couldn’t do anything else.
As Gizmoduck stood up his rubbed at his head (helmet? Eh, whatever).“Urg...Darkwing? Are we in Duckburg?”
"Yep, nice of you to catch up. That vortex threw us here all the way from St. Canard. Not sure where that lady went though.”
“She called herself The Heure Blazer, Darkwing.”
“Pff—why would I remember that dumb name. What is it, french or something?”
“Sure is, means something like ‘the time on a clock’. You know, it’s an interesting name as...”
Gizmoduck paused mid sentence, and Darkwing looked over to him. He was staring at something in the distance.
Darkwing restarted the conversation from its pause. “How’d you know that? Did ya’ study French in school or did your fancy robot helmet tell you that?”
“Oh, no, I, er, I’ve just done some simple research on Louie Braille, the inventor of Braille.”
“Unfortunate name if he wasn’t.” Darkwing narrowed his eyes. “You better not be distracted by something, Gizmo. It’ll hinder me finding The Blazer.”
“Oh, right, my apologies Darkwing. It’s just...I thought that restaurant closed down years ago.”
Darkwing followed Gizmoduck’s gaze to a shiny restaurant. Despite it’s cleanliness, it’s sign is faded and Darkwing can only spot one or two diners inside.
“Seems pretty open to me. Maybe not for long, though.”
Gizmoduck sighed softly. “I suppose so. I guess I mistook it for another place. It does remind me of the Duck Avenger.”
“The Duck Avenger? That hack?”
“Wha—Hack?! The Duck Avenger was a hero! Just because he never dealt with alien invasions or multidimensional portals doesn’t mean he wasn’t! His commitment to Duckburg and her people were matched by none. He’s an idol of mine.”
“An idol of yours—Seriously Gizmo? Don’t delude yourself. That ‘Avenger’ cared more about pranks and making himself look good than he did anyone in Duckburg. He’s the biggest fraud there is.”
Facing Gizmoduck, Darkwing put a hand on his hip and an incredulous look on his face. Because, seriously, could this guy be any bigger a fool? Gizmoduck mirrored the look on Darkwing’s face and curled his hands into fists at his side.
“Look, Gizmo, did you ever watch the news when he was active? He was a hack and everybody knew it.”
“Those reports were fiction. You should know how the media distorts reality! The only reason that the public accepts us as heroes is because of the Avenger. I will not tolerate you disrespecting him, Darkwing.”
“Oh please, just because the kitten-rescuer stopped a few muggings here and there still doesn’t change how much of a conceited clown he was. He’s not a hero; get over it.”
“You’re wrong, Darkwing!” Gizmoduck stood up straighter. “He was a hero!”
Darkwing scoffed. “He’s a hack!”
“Hero!”
“Hack!”
“Hero!”
“I think he’s a hoot!” A voice adds on. Darkwing looks around frantically, until finding it’s owner. Above them. Laying casually on a billboard.
What Darkwing does next is called getting all the facts, NOT avoidance. In fact, it could even be called the opposite of avoidance. Unavoidance, if you will. Because, you see, the duck laying on that billboard poses a canny resemblance to the Duck Avenger. Who, as Darkwing had just established, wasn’t a thing in this day and age.
“And who are you supposed to be? Some sort of hoon?” Darkwing gives the guy the stink-eye.
In return, the guy smirks. “Maybe. What’s it to you?”
“I’ll tell ya’ what’s it to me, pal! The name’s Darkwing Duck, and I don’t appreciate fans of that has-been Quack Avenger coming around and telling me–”
“That’s enough Darkwing!” Gizmo whispers at him, before smiling at the cosplayer and using his best Hero Voice. “I must apologise, citizen, for Darkwing’s actions. We are in the middle of pursing a villain, and are under some amount of stress.
“Stress that is not particularly helped by your precarious, uh, hang-out spot. So, citizen, if you would wouldn’t mind I’ll just roll over and help you down in a safe and–”
“Nah, I’m good.” The duck interrupts.
“Uh, but, my good citizen, I, uh, I really do insist that you allow me to help you!”
“Trust me, Bolts, I’m not the type of guy to go accidentally falling off of billboards.”
“Eh, well, I still think that perhaps you sh–”
“I’m more of a fan of doing it purposefully.” The duck interrupts Gizmos rambling pleas, shooting the both of them a wicked smile. Then...he rolls. Off. The. Billboard.
Darkwing watches as the cosplayers cape flutters around him, and he falls down onto the rooftop. Next to him Gizmo makes a strangled sound. Both of them only begin to move a second later. But, honestly, Darkwing knows that even if they had started moving the second he fell...they wouldn’t have caught the duck.
Yet...maybe they didn’t need to. As he lands, the duck bends his knees and lowers his back. He stands up straight. He looks at them. He’s completely fine. Darkwing aborts his rush to the duck (irritatingly) at the same time as Gizmo. Both of them stare at the duck in front of them.
Or maybe it would be accurate to say the Duck in front of them.
Smiling, his cape flows behind him. “Well boys, let me be the first to say,” the Duck Avenger opens his arms wide, “Welcome to the long-ago time of the 1990’s!”
Darkwing knows that if Gizmo were actually a robot (and not just some chump in a suit), his robot-jaw would have fallen off. Honestly he’s a little bit surprised Gizmo’s non-robot-jaw hasn’t fallen off...He’s a little bit surprised his jaw hasn’t fallen off.
Before him, the Duck Avenger cackles.