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There just seemed to be a feeling he couldn't shake. the grit and dirt that was imbedded in his feathers was driving him up the wall but he decided to ignore the growing agitation, he had plenty of work to do and he wasn't gonna let some dusty feathers get in his way.
Daffy arrives early on set, he always took his job seriously even if his job means being the laughing stock but if you asked daffy he easily says he has the hardest parts. it's not easy making getting shot, blasted, and wringed look appealing. he sighs forcefully through his nose pinching his temple slightly, a simple glance at the script already told him today is gonna be a long one.
He decides getting coffee from the breakroom wouldn't hurt he still had time to kill before the others arrive and he can feel the cloud of a headache start to form hopefully the caffeine would rid of it.
Bugs never cared to be punctual, daffy thinks its because he knows the whole crew will be happily waiting for him even if hes hours late but whatever spell hes casted on the rest never affects daffy the moment he walks through the door he jumps from his chair and immediately tells him off for how late he is, especially now that his headache has grown in that time to a migraine waiting felt like torture.
"Really Bugs!?! the whole world doesn't revolve around you you know! we could've been nearly through if you just would show up on time" he grits his teeth to stop himself from barking out more. maybe this time bugs will get it through his thick skull but all he got was a smug smile "relax doc, we've got plenty of time whats got your feathers so in a twist?"
bugs takes a step towards the duck while leaning in, ears perked for his response but daffy doesn't respond, he crosses his arms and turns around heading back to his coffee because it might be the only thing he has to get him through today and that pestering rabbit.
That reaction bothered bugs his whiskers bobbed and he felt left on a limb, all his excitement of talking with daffy deflated along with his drooping ears. somethings up with him he thinks but before he could look too deeply into it the cast was called to the stage.
The moment his flippers touch the oakwood floors he slips into his role and usually into near perfect acting. At first it wasn't too bad, it was actually a reprieve to finally get started and take his mind off of things but after running the set for hours it was getting unbearable. the violent bits hurt which is normal and daffys an incredible toon he can manage the world of cartoon pain unlike anyone but it still hurt, at least a little bit but being so run down just made his capacity thinner. every exaggerated movement was near agonizing, the bright spotlights hurt his head like hell, his feet began to ache and that terrible itch in his feathers came to the forefront due to his sweat making it worse.
He was constantly blinking away tears from his eyes mostly from pain but also from how exhausted and unappreciated he felt. why am i doing all of this when no one even cares?
There was something wrong with daffy bugs decided. while to an untrained eye daffys performance could be passed off as just fine if not great, Bugs took notice of the subtle changes. how pain after scenes lingered a second or two longer or how every movement and expression felt slightly more forced than usual or how between breaks any attempt to get daffy to banter with him would be ignored or pushed away and while bugs could admit any day that daffy was a truly stunning sight to see, his feathers just didn't seem to gleam like normal and his eyes lacked brightness. he felt the worry build on his consciousness.
During their ten minute break daffy slips into his dressing room, the weight of everything crushing him, by the time he reached his chair uncontrollable sobs escape him, he puts his hands on his face
A knock at the door startles him, quickly he clears his throat sits up straight while wiping his face in a desperate attempt to get rid of all his pain and to his best of effort to sound like himself he shouts "I'll be out in a minute!"
yet to his horror the doorknob turns and slightly opens while a soft "daffy its me" reaches his ears. his eyebrows furrow angerly and he turns away "what do you want bugs? "can i come in?" his voice still light. this is weird why is he being weird. "just make it quick" Daffy doesn't even know why he even agreed, but with one last wipe to his face he feels hes returned enough to normal that bugs wont catch on.
Bugs slips in and closes the door behind him, awkwardly he walks over to the couch pressed against the wall to face daffy in his vanity chair.
Before anything is said bugs fully takes in daffys appearance and everythings just not right. he looks miserable his feathers are a mess, his eyes look so tired and his body slumped.
bugs didn't think it would bother him so much seeing daffy like this yet everything in his being is screaming at him to fix it. taking in a deep breath he decides not to beat around the bush besides daffys always likes to be told the way it is.
"Daffy you look terrible, what's going on? daffy grimaces at this and he quivers with disgust that anyone could tell he's hurting, especially bugs. "Nothing Bugs I'm fine really just a headache" he waves his hand around uncaringly but avoids eye contact. a frown makes its way to bugs face "daffy..." he says his name with such sadness then a hesitant hand reaches out to the ducks shoulder and for whatever reason the gentle touch among the mounting hurt just breaks him.
a fountain of tears spill out and a gasp gets stuck in his throat its hard to breathe. bugs tentatively holds him caressing his back as daffys body trembles with sobs and he doesn't let go its like he's holding onto bugs for dear life. "you'll be okay daffy I'll make sure of it" bugs whispers daffy just buries his beak into bugs shoulder and after a few more minutes of shed tears and comforting touches hes calmed down enough to pull back.
The sight of daffy makes bugs breath hitch, he carefully places his paw on daffys cheek and the look in bugs eyes revealed something tender, its overwhelming and daffy quickly looks away afraid he'd be swallowed whole by it.
"here" he guides daffy to sit on the couch "im gonna talk to the production staff and then we're gonna go to your house and get you a nice warm bath" daffy sputters " what! no! bugs we can't do that I'm fine now really" he had a pleading expression on his face but bugs simply said "I'll be right back, stay put" the sound of the door closing felt final.
being left alone and without his emotions at the forefront he was able to process all that had happened. the creeping embarrassment made his face grow hot and his feathers ruffled uncomfortablly and he couldn't help the groan of despair leaving him.
thankfully he didn't have to sit with his emotions long, bugs came back in and couldn't help letting out a small chuckle at the sight of the embarrassed duck. "i had to do some sweet talkin' but we've got the rest of today and tomorrow off" a sigh of relief couldn't be helped its like a literal weight is lifted off his shoulders daffy lowers his beak and whispers "okay, thanks bugs" "its no problem really, now come on I'll drive" daffy reluctantly takes his hand and is led to the parking lot. silence fills the space between them only the sound of the road and the occasional turn signal is heard. bugs is wracking his brain on what to say and before he can think twice he says "y'know daffy you really are the most amazing toon I've met" his face reddens fur prickling a bit along side his nerves. "you're not so bad yourself, rabbit" daffy smiles cheekily and its like all the tension melts away.
bugs comment replays in daffys mind for the entire ride and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't over the moon because of it.
The car ride was enjoyable yet daffy still had the residual aches and pains and by the time they made it to his house daffy could barley keep his eyes open. bugs parks in his driveway and rushes over to open the door for him, lending a hand out then further holding his side as daffy leans heavily on him bugs helped the sleepy duck to the door, unlocking it.
Daffy was thankful he cleaned the day before. he plops on the couch in his living room and bugs heads to the bathroom to set up his bath. daffy tries his hardest to stay awake but it's proving to be difficult.
bugs comes to sit with him while the water runs, sleepy daffy is definitely eye candy he thinks.
bugs doesn't bother to talk he knows he'll just get incoherent murmurs in return instead he thinks about the duck while he watches him struggle to keep an eyelash open. after a couple minutes pass he leaves briefly to stop the running water and decides it'd just be best to carry daffy.
"lets get ya a bath" he whispers and grabs underneath his legs and back carrying him to the tub, trying to ignore how having daffy this close made him feel.
Lowering him into the warm water he sits on the edge squeezing daffys expensive shampoo in his palms before rubbing it into his feathers, starting at his arms. he can feel the dirt surfacing and pays close attention to getting it all out before moving to the next section. bugs takes to massaging his sore body leaving daffy feeling like puddy thats being shaped solely by bugs hands. he thinks this is the most relaxed hes ever felt in his life.
once bugs is done bathing him he lets daffy enjoy the water awhile longer, ending up just mindlessly petting and fiddling with daffys feathers but soon helps dry him off before the water got cold.
The moment daffy got into bed he was snuggled in the covers and drifting off to sleep. bugs smiled at his sleepy figure tag wagging wildly he feels like he's done a successful job at caring for daffy.
Bugs was gonna let him be, head back to his burrow then come again in the morning to make them both breakfast but right as he was about to leave bugs hears daffy mumble out "bugs pleasthe stay" bugs paws stay rooted on the ground, shocked he's even still awake after a moment he responds "okay I'll sleep in the living room" a frustrated snort comes from daffy "nooo, come hereee" daffy makes sloppy uncoordinated movements trying to usher bugs over.
As soon as bugs reaches daffs side of the bed hes pulled in "ouff, daffy! wha-" before he could finish his protests daffy covers them both in blankets smothering bugs in warmth, the inside of the blanket casts an orange hue, daffy uses his hand to prop it up so they can face each other. a sweet smile on his face so present with love it makes bugs squirm, he lazily blinks at him "thank you for making me feel so special today bugsy"
bugs gulps, a heat rises to his face and god all he wants to do is kiss him. he fiddles with his hands "yeah of course daff" heat prickles the back of his neck "ya already are special" and maybe it was the rabbits obvious pry for something more by the way he spoke, treated him and looked at him or maybe its how daffy has been feening for anything that came close to this moment when it came to the rabbit but either way daffy just had to try to close the distance.
Slowly daffy leans in, watching for bugs reaction, ensuring he doesn't push it. the gesture makes bugs nearly yelp out of shock but nonetheless he closes the distance.
it's something sweet they cant help but smile into the kiss when they break apart for air overwhelmed with affection bugs cant help but nuzzle daffy, who is also giddy with love, stroaks bugs ears and kisses him again over and over, inbetween kisses bugs manages to say "how about we go to bed and in the morning I'll make nice fluffy pancakes and we can spend all day together", bugs extends his arms to reach for daffy fully cuddling him.
"yeah i think I'd like that"