Wolf & Coyote Mercenary Services [Looney Tunes AU]

Episode 13: Light Up the Night

Note for returning readers: As of 12/2/2022, this chapter has had key details edited which may affect the context of certain scenes in future chapters. See end-of-chapter notes for details.

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Dawn of October 31st, Lola slips out from the king-sized bed and struts over to the curtained, wall-length window of the penthouse. Pulling back the curtains, she admires the clear, multi-colored skies looming over the cityscape. Her enjoyment is interrupted as a billboard, standing at the border between North Quarter and the company's outer rung, suddenly bursts into pieces.

Bugs, roused from his slumber, groggily mutters, "Lola, what was that noise?"

Swiftly closing the curtains, she turns and smiles sheepishly. "Nothing important. Just some stray delinquents causing trouble. The police can handle it. Want me to grab coffee from the lounge?"

"Of course. And grab some wheat bread, too, while you're at it." The alarm clock buzzes. "Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta get ready for a very important meeting."

Bugs exits the room, and Lola turns to peek through the curtains again. The lack of incendiary matter from the destruction leads her to a worrying suspicion as to the culprit. His little demonstration last night barely scratched the surface. This is him showing his true power.

***

In the Acme Grand Hotel, Duane is shaken awake at the sound of a distant explosion. He looks over to the window, beside which his boss and companion, Mr. Wolfgang, is in an archer's stance. "Wyatt, what are you doing?" he asks.

"Getting some target practice in this morning," Wyatt answers, breaking position to close the window. "So, should I call room service, or would you rather eat out?"

Glancing at the clock, Duane asks, "It's a bit early for breakfast, isn't it?"

"Huh. So it is. Well, we can get a little sightseeing done. And after we eat, we'll go shopping for your costume."

"'Costume'? You don't intend for me to attend the Fête with you, do you? I heard you over the phone with Mr. Bunny; you said you were more than enough."

"I can change my mind, can't I? 'Sides, I want you to go out and enjoy life whenever the opportunity arises. If I left you here all alone, I'd be going against everything I worked for." The larger wolf smiles. "Now, get yourself ready. We're heading out."

***

Later, the sun sets on Acme City, and back in apartment 203, Wolf & Coyote are nearly ready to party.

Ralph's outfit, a black tuxedo vest and pants, is made complete with a black-and-red silk cape to drive home its vampiric appearance. He waits by the door when Pepé enters from the bedroom. The skunk is dressed in a similarly formal manner, bearing a Victorian-style vest and dress shirt with a black, flowing cape, but the silvery white half-mask brings it all together. "Nice costume," the wolf comments with a subtle layer of sarcasm. "It suits you."

Pepé, pretending not to notice, grins proudly. "Merci, M. Loup. Le Fantôme de l'Opéra has always resonated with me. A lonely, misunderstood genius who would go to the ends of the earth for his love."

"You mean a freaky sociopath who stalks and kills for his obsession," Ralph retorts. "Have you even read the book?"

"I assure you, I most certainly have. But it appears someone has only read half of the story, and I am certain it's not me."

Ralph is about to rip the skunk a new one when Wile's presence cuts him off. Wearing a magenta blouse, partially unbuttoned to expose his chest and midriff, and hip-hugging brown cargo pants, the coyote is pulling off his innate sex appeal effortlessly. His wide-brimmed fedora, fingerless gloves, and torn-up leather duster coat add an extra bit of edge to the ensemble. Most unusually, in his hands, he wields a strange, crossbow-like contraption with a bear trap at the front end. "Um, Wile, are you sure you can get that past security?" Ralph questions him.