"Pine?"

"Mmm hmm."

"Did she have someone with her?"

Honker blinked. Eva's blue eyes were locked on him seriously… almost uncharacteristically so. Truth be told, it made him a little unsettled.

"Actually, there was someone else."

"Who?"

"I don't know. I didn't get a look at them they just snuck up behind me, said they got the wrong one and ran off."

The dark feathered agent looked at the firing range beyond the sound proof glass and he followed her gaze. The team was in there, unloading their clips easily into the paper targets. Eva had advised him to tell to them work on their sharp shooting skills so… 'Slick' had barked at them all to shape up and all that. He had been spending a lot of time with them… and the act was getting easier. So was talking to Eva, he rarely got moments like this where they could talk plainly. At the moment, he held her in his highest confidence.

"Do you think they might be after me?" He asked her and her eyes shot to him quickly.

"You? Why?"

"…I uh… I don't know… I was just…" He fumbled, it sounded so stupid in retrospect. Why would they come for him? He heard her sigh and she closed the blinds. His eyes turned up to find her looking at him almost… tenderly?

"Slick… this has been so hard for you." She said sadly as she put a soft hand on his cheek. "You're being pulled in all different directions and I'm only making it worse by telling you to lie to them." She motioned to the concealed windows.

"I-uh… well.. it's not all that…"

"Maybe I should just go? Am I even helping at all? My advice nearly got you killed, if I had any sense in my head I would have had you under surveillance too."

"W-well…"

"I'm making things so hard for you…" She sighed and her hand slipped from his cheek to tighten his tie. "…when I'm only trying to help."

"You are helping!" He blurted out loudly and he cleared his throat timidly as her eyes turned up to him with a smile. "I-I uh I mean… I could never pull off this 'Slick' thing without you. And then they wouldn't listen to me and we wouldn't be…. Well we wouldn't be prepared to face whatever unforeseen plots await us."

"Really?" Her eyes glistened slightly and he felt his mouth go dry. He hadn't intended it to come out so…sappy? Suggestive? Oy. She smoothed out his tie holding onto that smile. "I'm happy you think so. I promise we'll keep you safe from now on…"

"You make it sound like I'm some kind of helpless little kid." His voice traveled the enclosed space with the slightest hint of bitterness. She patted his tie lightly and stared at the fibers in it for a while.

"You aren't. But you've still got a long way to go Honker… I want you to be someone no one would think twice about questioning. You're so much more than what they see… I know you could be the next Derek Blunt if only they'd let you. I want to see you up there…"

"Why?"

She blinked in an odd manner, almost stunned. He didn't feel it was an invalid question really. Why did she think he'd be worth a hill of beans in a higher position? Was he really that fascinating? She lifted her eyes to his and he felt a lump form in his throat.

"Because, I-"

The tense air was suddenly interrupted by the door slamming open and Honker was sure he'd leapt a mile. Uncomfortable silence filled the room as if whatever the person who had made the loud entrance was about to say had completely slipped their mind. He watched Eva's features ice over and her eyes narrow ever so slightly before he turned to see Darkwing returning the look. Suddenly sensing how terrible this looked he took a hurried step away from Eva which drew the vigilante's glare to him.

"Sorry to interrupt." Darkwing seethed sarcastically. "I need to speak to Agent Muddlefoot alone if you don't mind Agent-"

"Shields." Eva said darkly. "Agent Eva Shields, Mr. Darkwing Duck and whatever you have to say to Slick you can say to me to."

Honker glanced at the thermostat… he was sure it just dropped twenty degrees in here.

"Uh… it's okay Eva. I've got this one." He said nervously and she looked him up and down before she nodded curtly and walked out of the room. She hit Darkwing with her shoulder harshly as she walked past, he in turn sent her off with the evilest look he could muster. Honker couldn't help but stare. "…uh…"

The door slammed shut after the masked mallard and he stalked over to him prodding him sharply in the chest.

"Stay away from her." He said firmly.

"…what?"

"She's trouble."

"Eva? No way she's-"

"What were you two doing in here?" A suspicious glint glittered in the hero's eyes.

"Talking! What were you doing barging in here?!" He snapped defensively.

"Looking for you, lucky thing I did too…"

"Please…" He rolled his eyes but Darkwing grabbed him by the tie and pulled him close.

"What's gotten into you?" The blue eyes narrowed in a prying fashion. "Agents around here seem to think you're some guy named 'Slick' and a real hard ass."

"Look, I'm doing what I have to try to get results out of this team I have. They wouldn't listen to me if I didn't put on the act. Eva says-"

"Do you do everything she tells you?"

Honker bit back his tongue as his face burned with anger. This was ridiculous. He didn't do everything she told him he didn't… uh… well there was that one thing… wasn't there?… oh boy. He did, didn't he? For reasons he couldn't quite peg this only made him angrier.

"What business of it is yours?" He said flatly. "Don't tell me how to do my job Darkwing, I can do it just fine on my own…"

"You mean you can follow what she tells you to do just fine on your own…"

"She's the only one I see that's making any progress around here! What have you found? Nothing! She handed me a report with two leads this morning-"

"Which she probably planted…"

"Which is still more than you've given me. You didn't even bother to ask if there was another person with Ammonia Pine, she did!"

"Why would I ask that? You're supposed to tell me these things… and why aren't you questioning how she knew to ask that question?"

"She's a trained professional, she always asks the right questions."

Darkwing's eyes narrowed at him. It was a blow to his ego. He knew it would be and he regretted saying it already. He didn't want to own up to it though, Darkwing had no right to attack her like this. It was childish, behind her back and everything. The hero's hand slid down the tie and off the bottom. Honker frowned but before he could tuck it back in a small black circle in the palm of Darkwing's hand caught his attention. He stared at the bugging device then the vigilante's dour expression.

"Quite a crack team you've got here Slick." He said sourly as he tossed the bug at his face and he clumsily caught it. "If you feel like listening to someone not out to stab you in the back… you know how to find me."

With a brief stalk and another slamming of the door Darkwing had left. Honker stared at the device in his hand for a long minute before he put it in a drawer of the desk in the corner of the room. What was going on? Had Eva and Darkwing rubbed elbows in the past? Why shouldn't he trust her? Why did she bug him? Why did he say those horrible things to Darkwing? …just what was he doing? He held his head in his hands. This was falling apart. Why did he think he could do this? Why was he still doing this? Was this even about Gosalyn anymore? Or was it just about him? He needed to think… and he knew he wouldn't be able to do that here.

Was there a way to sort this all out? What was he supposed to do? He knew who he should trust… but he wanted to trust Eva too. The rustling of the leaves overhead did nothing to deter his mental battle with himself. The park was quiet around him, it was as if the world was at rest as he sat on the uncomfortable park bench with it's flaking paint job. He stared blankly ahead hoping that if he just sat here long enough he'd either find out that the last few weeks had all been some sort of bizarre dream or… he'd at least get some perspective on what was really going on. What he hadn't expected was to get something heavy slammed ruthlessly against his head.

Dazed and confused he regained his wits on a patch of grass a good foot away from the bench he'd been on. With a groan he felt the sore spot and blinked dully at the crack in the lens in front of his right eye. He stared at the grass beneath him for a moment before his mind caught up to him and he scrambled to his feet to greet a narrowing of golden eyes and a livid flick of a tail.

Malicia MaCawber, the self proclaimed "Demon Queen of St. Canard" and long term partner in crime (with benefits) of Negaduck, shouldered the large sack that she no doubt had hoped would break his neck instead of his glasses. Her eyes skimmed his appearance darkly and he hardened his jaw. She was a fire demon, with super strength only matched by her super temper. When faced with this one you never really knew where you stood. At the moment he was completely baffled on where he was supposed to stand. But as her glare hovered on the shield pin on his lapel he had a pretty good idea.

"S.H.U.S.H. huh?" Her dark voice inquired suspiciously. She extended a clawed finger and flicked the pin off his jacket. It probably would be found two states over… eventually. "You didn't strike me as a pig when you were sneaking around my warehouse last night." He barely had a minute to register this before her hand closed around the collar of his shirt and lifted him off the ground. "Though you sure do smell a lot more like shoe polish now…" Her eyebrow arced up and she sniffed the air. "…and soap."

"I don't know what you're talking about…" he struggled to free himself but it was as effective as an ant challenging a bulldog. She didn't seem to take notice at all.

"Look ya little runt," Her eyes flashed dangerously. "I should just rip your throat out for sniffing out my lair to protect my business assets and my daughter… but no cops swarmed the place today. What were you up to? Better start talkin' or my understanding nature might fade…"

"But it wasn't me-" His shirt started to smoke in her hand as she scowled at him.

"I did a quick inventory after you ran off…" She continued, letting the heavy sack fall to the floor so she could gently lift the glasses off his face with one hand. "…seems there was only one thing missing. And it was such an odd thing too… I asked myself 'Why would some knob break in here to steal that, O' most gorgeous villain to ever grace this God forsaken junk heap of a city?'" Oh yeah… add super ego to her list of attributes as well. He watched through his natural blurry vision as his glasses started to melt in her hand. "And you know… I just couldn't figure it out. What are you up to kid? I'm losing my patience with you…" Her head tilted slightly and she squinted at him. "…waitaminute. Don't I know you…?"

"Alright put 'im down Grandma!"

The demon's eyes flared and the fabric in her grip disintegrated into ash as a beastly shriek tumbled out of her. Honker almost thought he would be forgotten but the public enemy grabbed him by the arm.

"I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S OLD YOU LITTLE BRAT!!" Fumed the villainess before Honker found himself, against all reason, being used as a projectile.

He collided hard with the target and both of them went down. He shook his head and tried to focus on the green eyes that peered up at him from behind an emerald mask.

"Uugh thanks fer droppin' in Honk." Grimaced Quiverwing before her eyes widened and she forced his head down, a fireball missed him by a hair.

She maneuvered around him and her bow was in her hand before he could blink back his sight. The singing of arrows being launched at the criminal and the demolition of the surrounding terrain in response seemed to jog his sluggish brain. He ducked a flaming brick the demon had chucked in Quiverwing's direction and stumbled to his feet. It was incredible to see Gosalyn dodging and weaving through the onslaught of attacks. But why was she alone? His eyes darted to the surrounding buildings, Darkwing must be waiting to back her up… right?

"HONKER! INCOMING!"

When his eyes returned to the fight he barely had a second to crouch before a marble monument sailed over his head. Numbly he heard Quiverwing laugh tauntingly.

"You missed me Granny! Gunna have to get your eyes checked!"

Honker stared at the heat warped marble stunned. The air was pierced by a furious screech, but he caught some movement down the street and felt his mouth go bone dry. A massive three headed dog was barreling toward the scuffle… one that was well known to be Malicia's familiar. His name was Pringles. And Pringles was baring three sets of fangs the size of stalactites with three growls rumbling along the surrounding cityscape. Honker was on his feet again in a matter of seconds and dashing toward Quiverwing when something small and wet splattered on the back of his head. Surprised, he wiped his hand down the damp feathers and came back with a spit ball. He glanced back at the snarling beast and squinted in the direction demonic laughter was resonating from. A familiar little duckling was riding on the creature's back and cackling like mad as she readied another spit ball. His attention was brought back to the main attraction when a yelp of pain escaped the heroine and he wheeled around to see her trying to put out the ends of her hair which had caught fire. Malicia was already prepared to strike in Quiverwing's distracted state but he was there first. He tackled Gosalyn and the demon's claws ripped through the air instead of her chest.

"KICK HIS ASS MOM!" Cheered the Cerberus's passenger excitedly while pumping her small fist in the air.

"Oh I'm gunna…" She growled in response.

He and Quiverwing exchanged a quick nod and just as the villainess' fiery fist came down they rolled in opposite directions. Gosalyn was on her feet in seconds with a bow he hadn't seen her use in years notched and aimed.

"HEY PRINGLES!" She shouted and all three heads turned to her, it's eyes locked on the squeak toy on the arrow shaft. The beast couldn't help it's tail from wagging. "FETCH BOY!" she released the arrow and amid an excited yip from the creature there was a squawk of shock from the little girl as the beast took after it.

"PRINGLES! HEEL! SIT!!" Malicia shouted after the beast. "GET BACK HERE!" Her vendetta forgotten, the demon started racing after the retreating brute. "MORRIGAN! HANG ON MOMMY'S COMING!"

Quiverwing cupped both hands to the sides of her mouth as she screamed after them.

"And you leave my sister alone Morrigan you little monster!" She sighed and inspected the singed ends of her hair before she gave him a grin. "We sure showed her huh?"

"What the heck was that?" He couldn't repress the exasperation that made his voice crack slightly.

Quiverwing opened the sack and took out a large diamond before dropping it back in the bag carelessly.

"She was making a jewel heist… couldn't get anyone to watch the little hellion I guess. Funny that she ran into you though, maybe it's a sign that you're supposed to be the Arrow Kid again?" She giggled.

"Where's your dad? He'd be having a seizure if you knew you'd taken her on alone…"

"I dunno, haven't seen him." She said lightly. "Besides I'm not a rookie anymore." She glanced up to see police cars heading their way. "Ah, good. Time for my close up!" She slicked back the long violet feather she had fastened into her pony tail and dusted off her purple sleeves nonchalantly before she turned to him. She blinked at the gaping hole in his collar and the ash that had dusted the front of his suit. "Uh… what was her beef with you anyway Honk?"

He sighed wretchedly and rubbed his temples.

"I don't know."

Darkwing Duck and all related characters are © Disney

Malicia MaCawber, Morrigan MaCawber-Negaduck and Pringles are © Vaporshi and are used with permission

Boy oh boy. Sorry to let this collect dust for so long. Hopefully you're all still with me? :D Honker's gunna need a looooooong vacation when this is all said and done... but he's gotta get there first.

Mwhaha.

Also for those who don't know Morrigan and Milly are... sort of rivals. More like Morigan torments the crap out of Milly. Really what else would you expect from Darkwing and Negaduck's kids?