Chapter Text
If you had asked him how he got in this situation in the first place, well.. He really wouldn’t have an answer for you.
It started with a rabbit. Not just any rabbit, though at this point he wished it was just any ole rabbit, but no. It was the rabbit. Bugs Bunny.
The interaction happened during one of his set ups, a fool proof plan to catch that pesky Road Runner. Laying down the bird seed with exact precision, it had to be the perfect sized pile. “Eh, what’s up, doc?” The voice was irritating to his ears, which twitched slightly as he stopped moving. Wile E. Coyote paused as he looked over his shoulder, his eyes showed clear disappointment. On a nearby rock ledge was the rabbit. The one and only, he unfortunately needed no introduction. It had been years since Coyote last saw him, maybe even decades.
The two had a sort of past with each other, he honestly thought it was in the past. Yet here he was, just sitting there and watching him. In response to the silence, he watched as Bugs cocked an eyebrow as he took another bite of his carrot. “Not as talkative this time? Right, I guess that’s your thing now.”
Hm, maybe it was his thing now, he never considered that. Coyote didn’t talk much, this was a known fact, yet he spoke with Bugs last time they interacted. He hadn’t even talked with Kevin or Paige, even when that would’ve probably been helpful. He didn’t know why, maybe it was something about the rabbit's tone that dragged it out of him. Despite everything within him screaming to keep his mouth shut or pull out a sign, he opened his mouth. “I can speak whenever and to whomever I want.” It even surprised him a bit, yet it didn’t phase Bugs.
Naturally, he wasn’t sure anything shocked Bugs Bunny. He always seemed to be ahead of everyone, at least he carried himself as if he were better than everyone. Bugs had nothing on him though, that much was obvious. “I like your voice, you should talk more.” The almost sincerity in his tone made Coyote whip around where he stood, eyes wide as he stared at him. Baffled, he almost let out a laugh.
“Talk more? Why, I don’t think that’s much needed.” Bugs raised both of his brows with that smile on his face, that scheming smile he always seemed to have. His teeth were always bared, yet never threatening. How much could a mere rabbit do anyways? He was prey after all. Bugs spun his carrot around in his hands, sitting up a bit as he hopped down from his rock.
Reflexively, Coyote took a step back. Away from him, wanting his distance. “Aw come on, I ain’t that scary, am I?” Bugs almost teased, batting his eyelashes at him as he brought his own hands to his face. “You’re way bigger than me, not to mention a genius after all.”
The statement made Wile E. smile despite himself, averting his gaze quickly as he let out a real laugh. “Genius? Why, yes.. I’m surprised you remembered that.”
“It’s not every day you meet a genius,” Bugs took a step closer, tilting his head to the side. This time he didn’t try to keep his distance from Bugs. “Say, you still want to eat me? You sure aren’t acting like it.”
He said it while right in front of him, the question made Coyote swallow a bit. Did he still want to eat him? Rabbit stew is still delicious and well, he was right here. He was right here. His hands twitched a bit as he lifted them up out of habit, his claws extended out. “I suppose I hadn’t considered that option. Perhaps I do.” Maybe a bit hesitantly, Coyote wrapped his fingers around the rabbits neck.
Not too hard, of course, he needed to stay alive until he cooked him into a stew. The recipe is really a delicious rabbit stew, one he’d love to share with someone. He didn’t try to escape his grasp, Bugs offering a bit of a grin as he shrugged his shoulders. “Fine by me, but eh..” He pointed his carrot over Coyote’s shoulder. “Think you have to talk with the boss first.” Coyote’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, the boss? No one was his boss. Yet he still looked behind him, his entire body freezing in place as he did.
Standing behind them was the Road Runner.
He hadn’t even heard him run up, yet suddenly he was here and watching them. Coyote didn’t like the feeling his piercing eyes gave, it made his fur stand up. Roadie wasn’t smiling nor frowning, a perfectly blank look on his face. It was unnerving, he was always smiling. His talon tapped against the road a bit as he pulled out a sign,
[ WHO IS THAT? ]
Coyote realized his hands were still around Bugs neck and instantly let go, taking a step away from him. It was odd, the feeling of guilt washing over him even if he was doing nothing wrong. Bugs didn’t react to being let go, instead answering the question as Coyote was stunned.
“Bugs Bunny, a pleasure to make the acquaintance, Roadie. Me and Mr Genius here go way back, I’m surprised we haven’t met sooner.” Bugs had extended a hand out for a shake, smiling at the bird before him. Coyote couldn’t even comment on the fact Bugs called him by his nickname, he was a bit panicked as he pulled out his own sign to reply to Road Runner.
[ HE IS AN OLD.. FRIEND? ]
It was kinda hard to describe what Bugs was to him, he couldn’t dare say he was another prey. Even if he was, that felt like a bad call to make. He grimaced as he heard Bugs chew, asking why Coyote was back to using signs. He had taken his hand back, as Roadie made no move to try and shake it. As if they were ganging up on him, Roadie had the same question.
[ WHY DO YOU ONLY SPEAK TO HIM? ]
Bugs seemed very pleased as he turned back to look at Coyote, letting himself smirk a bit. “You only speak to me? My, you really know how to make a girl feel so special!” He raised his hand up and touched Coyote’s chest, which made his entire face light up. It was an involuntary reaction, quickly moving a hand over most of his face. As if that would hide the redness of his ears.
The tapping of an annoyed talon against the road quickened, Road Runner's blank face turning into a frown now. His eyes were lowered and Coyote hadn’t noticed this yet, but another did. “But really, Wile E. Not speaking to little ole Roadie this whole time?” Bugs leaned his entire body against Coyotes, resting his head on his shoulder.
Eyes forward, meeting Road Runner’s with a bit of a smirk. “I guess seventy something years doesn’t guarantee it.” That made Coyote move his hand, quickly standing up straighter. For the first time since this interaction started, Road Runner said something.
“Beep Beep!” Coyote was shocked, he had never said that in such an.. angry tone? He took a step away from Bugs as he turned around, now seeing he was right in front of him. He was almost being sandwiched between the two- not that he’d mind- it was truly awful.
Roadie had leaned his head forward and over Wile E., staring into Bug's eyes. The eyes were narrowed in as Bugs didn’t move, keeping his same smile on his face. A sign raised, Coyote barely being able to read it from this angle.
[ DO YOU ALWAYS MEDDLE WHERE YOU DON’T BELONG? ]
“Eh, I mean that’s sorta my job..” Bugs offered as he moved a hand to his hip, his eyes flickering from Road Runner to the canine. “You know, I met him right after you. Even learned his name before you, isn’t that something?” Bugs shrugged his shoulders as his grin grew, clearly having fun with this whole interaction.
Coyote didn’t like the energy that was happening here, especially between his two prey. As he looked at Bugs, his instincts failed him. “I think-“ He began to speak before he quickly shut his mouth, his eyes darting back to Road Runner. He witnessed a slight smile on his face quickly leave as Coyote shut his mouth, stopping his tapping for a moment.
“Still not speaking?” A loud crunch of a carrot right in his ear as he felt a finger caress under his chin, tilting his face up a bit. “You’re one weird guy, Wile E. Coyote.”
Before he could react, Bugs took a couple steps back. “Now, you two seem like you need to have a long talk. You know, I could recommend a couples therapist, really-“ Bugs winked a bit, Coyote unsure which of them it was meant for. “But I gotta go. Have fun, toodles!” At that, he gave a little wave as he hopped down into a rabbit hole. It was silent for a moment, Coyote just listening to the wind as he felt the presence still behind him.
On one hand, he was glad Roadie hadn’t left yet. On the other hand, he was a bit mortified. He turned a bit as he offered a slight smile to the Road Runner, who was still frowning. His eyes still looked mad, even more so than before. Perhaps the wrong move, Coyote slowly pulled out a sign.
[ DO YOU WANT TO TALK? ]
Roadie jumped up at that, a loud ‘beep beep’ was heard as he stuck his tongue out at him. Not playfully as it usually was, he could tell that much. Before he could get another sign out, the Road Runner was long gone. He coughed a bit at the dust cloud, shaking his head. Coyote deflated a bit as he sighed, kicking the rocks beneath his feet a bit. Confusingly, he feels like he’s in deep trouble.