“Did you really mean that, Ace? Are we seriously moving to Blanc??” Ace turned away from the kitchen bench, leaving behind a sandwich in need of assembling. He already had an answer planned out and was about to offer it when he was suddenly distracted.

“Where's your uniform?”

Lexi stared at him in a manner that suggested that the words, 'you have GOT to be kidding me' were floating through her head. She was dressed in a magenta sweater, with a mahogany belt and matching boots pulled over her tight jeans.

“Ace, we just saved the universe from Deuce. You gave us today off.” She reminded.

“Oh, uh... Right. I knew dat.” Ace said, before turning back to his unfinished lunch. He then swung back round to face Lexi again. “Where're you going?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Duck's driving me to the mall. I'm catching up with some old friends. You know, it'd probably do you some good to take today off-”

“Who said I'm not?”

“Your uniform said so.” She said, gesturing towards his black and yellow suit.

“I wasn't aware dat it could speak.” Ace grinned mischievously.

Lexi opened her mouth to reply when a voice suddenly cut her off.

“Are ya ready yet or what?” Both bunnies turned to face the mallard, dressed in an old jersey and a pair of light denim jeans. Lexi gave Ace one last look before following Duck out of the kitchen.

Ace shook his head before turning to his poor, neglected sandwich. “Why aren't you made yet?” He asked irritably.

~~~

Lexi looked out at the street as Duck drove. It was a relatively quiet day, especially inside the deep blue sports car.

The bunny leant back in her seat and watched the bird concentrate on the streets ahead.

“Where'd the car come from?”

“I've always had it. Just don't use it often.” He mumbled, keeping his attention on the lights up ahead.

“Yeah, but where'd you get it from?”

“My parents bought it for me for my 18^th.”

Lexi blinked, bewildered.

“Wow. Wish my parents bought me a car period.” This earned a chuckled from the mallard. “Duck... Where're you taking me?”

“Monetllo.”

“Where?”

“Montello.” He faced her for the first time during the trip. Lexi noted how far forward his seat was adjusted in order for him to reach the gas and break pedals. “It's a suburb.” He faced the road again.

“I realize that... Why are you taking me to Montello? The mall's that way-”

“I need to pick up something.”

“What do you need to pick up.” Lexi's expression became one of suspicion.

Duck frowned.

“None of your business.”

Lexi pouted at his curt reply, folding her arms and facing her window, slumping in the seat. Duck glanced sideways at her before rolling his eyes.

“I need to grab my Mom's birthday present.” Lexi sat up, visibly interested.

“What'd you get her?”

“A friend of the family arranged for some childcare worker to sew a stupid quilt.”

“A friend of the family chose your mother's present?”

“Hey! I was busy with world-saving stuff!” Duck defended. Lexi offered him a curious look.

“A quilt? You're getting her a quilt?”

“It has patches or something that tell the story of her life or whatever.” Duck waved the question away disinterestedly before turning down a street. The car suddenly came to a halt. Lexi jerked forward before turning and glaring at the mallard. He'd been a relatively safe driver until that point.

“I am SO not going to be able to get this car up there.” The bunny turned and looked around.

“Up WHERE?”

“Number 17.”

The driveway turned sharply, almost in the opposite direction of the one-way street, wedged in between two thick, concrete walls that led it upwards in a precarious manner.

“Wow.” Was all Lexi could say.

With a furious jerk of the gear stick, Duck turned his car, trying to maneuver it between the concrete walls. After a few attempts, the vehicle managed to putter it's way up the steep hill and into the parking area.

Lexi admired the white flats. There were only four in the block – two downstairs and two upstairs directly above the downstairs flats – and in between both sets of apartments was a staircase, painted deep blue.

“What number?”

“It's upstairs. Number 3.” Duck said, stepping out of the car. He then poked his head back through the window after closing the door. “Stay.”

“What do I look like, a dog?” She asked irritably, but obeyed nevertheless.

The short black Duck trudged up the stairs, checking a small piece of paper to ensure that he had the right address. He turned down the left balcony and stood at a glass door with blinds pulled over it. On the window ledge next to the front entrance was perched a fluffy, miniature, black and white cat. Duck glared at it before knocking on the door.

“Only be a ticky!” Came the muffled reply from inside.

“Ticky...?” A moment later, the front door swung open, and Duck stood face to face with...

A pair of breasts.

“Hi.” He said, entranced. He then heard a polite cough and turned his sights up a bit higher. “Hello.” He greeted again. The girl gave him and odd sort of smirk and stepped away from the door.

“Come in.” She offered. The duck did so and she closed the door behind him. He held his hand out to her.

“Danger Duck.”

“Mairi Lyre.” She responded, giving his hand a firm, solid shake.

“Liar??”

“Lyre. As in the instrument.”

“Ah!” He got a good look of her. She was an avian of some sort... He only just reached her shoulders, which were quite wide for a female. Her hair was a deep, reddy-brown with a dirty-blonde fringe, and tied back into a tiny pony tail. Her beak was short and stout and her eyes were immensely dark. She was wearing a long, dark t-shirt and baggy cargo pants. Her waist was thin and led on to wide, rounded hips. Her legs just seemed to go on forever...

“Should've told me you were coming. I look like a bogan.” She informed.

Duck blinked. Bogan?

“I did call. I left a message.” Intrigued, the taller bird walked across the room and to her phone in order to check her messages. Duck took the opportunity to get a good look at the place.

The living room and the dining room were connected to form one large rectangular living space. However, the sofa cut the two areas apart, facing the same wall that the front door was located in. To his left was a tiny kitchen that looked as though it could only hold two people at one time. Opposite the kitchen was a large entrance-way that led to three different doors. It was a small place, but comfortable nonetheless. Even if it was a little untidy.

“Shouldn't've left me a message when I was in the shower.” She said, tapping the side of her beak with a smirk.

“Yeah yeah yeah. Whatever. I called. So where's the quilt.” He asked abruptly. The female straightened up to her full height and looked down upon him. With a tight, polite smile, she disappeared through a small doorway next to the kitchen.

Duck leant a little to the right in order to peer into the room. Cut-up fabrics were dropped every which-way, with a large series of shelves that contained different sewing materials at the back of the small space.

The girl exited the room and Duck straightened back up. She held in her arms a large blanket. With a tremendous flick, she spread it out over the dining table. Duck moved closer and looked it over.

“Is that supposed to represent me?” He asked, pointing to a small, stylised black duck.

“All I was told was that she adopted a little black duck.” the female bird shrugged. Duck raised an eyebrow but said nothing else. He had to admit, it was really well done, and he was a bit impressed. He knew his mother would like it.

“How much.”

“One fifty.”

“A hundred and fifty?” Duck looked at her in shock.

“The materials don't come cheap. And I don't know you well enough to give you mates' rates. One fifty.” She said firmly.

As Duck handed over the cash, he pondered just what “mates' rates” were.

The girl folded the quilt back up, handed it over and saluted him.

“Pleasure doing business with you, Admiral. Now, if you don't mind, I have to get ready for work.” She said, leading him towards the door.

“Your accent-”

She paused and looked down at him.

“Acmestralian.” She answered.

“New in town?” He questioned, grinning.

“Been here six years.”

“What for?”

“Work.”

“Oh.” Duck looked to the door, then looked back to her. “Wanna have lunch with me?”

“I have work.”

“Maybe some other time?”

“I'd like to focus on my work.” And with that, she opened up the door and gestured for him to leave. He smiled, not the least bit offended.

“Can't blame a guy for trying.” He said, stepping outside.

“No, you can't. Ooo-roo!” She then closed the door. Duck stood there for a few moments a bit confused, before heading back downstairs and over to his car.

“Let me see it!” Lexi demanded and he practically threw it at her as he nestled down in the drivers' seat.

“Wow! It's really well done! Look how little the stitching is... And all the different shaped buttons! Oh, how'd they do that...?” Lexi continued blabbering away as Duck slid the key into the ignition and circled round through the parking area in order to face the driveway.

“She was hot.” He finally said as he drove down the steep hill.

“What??”

“She was reeeeaaally hot.” Duck repeated, an intense expression on his face.

“Ew.” Lexi thought for a moment. “Did you ask her out?”

“Yeah. She said no.” The bunny laughed. “She wants to “focus on work”.” He added with inverted commas.

“Can't blame you for trying though...” She smiled and turned to face her window.

“Can't blame me to keep on trying either...” was his response. Lexi faced him again and offered a curious expression before her face became firm.

“Don't push it, Duck.”

“I won't need to. You'll see. I'll get her. I always get the girl I want.” With that, Lexi rolled her eyes.

“Doubt it.” She said, facing her window once more.