rawduckmeat

[rawduckmeat]

“If You Soar, Who Will Sink?” Character designs

Hugo Rottewage, Poppy Rottewage, Milo Colbeck, and Chase Col-wage

Sorry for the accidental hiatus!!! I’ll be back in the next few weeks I swear!!!

[rawduckmeat]

If You Soar, Who Will Sink

This is my Hugo Rottewage imagined backstory!! This is my first fic so if you have any feedback don’t hesitate to reach out!!

Chapter 1

The Mouse & The Crate

“Milo, what is taking so long?!” Poppy looked around nervously, pushing her shaggy silver-blond hair behind her ear. “We don't have much time!”. Poppy’s foot tapped impatiently.

“Well, we all know Hugo is better at picking locks than me!” Milo turned around and looked up to Poppy from the basement hatch.

“Aww you flatter me!” Poppy’s brother, Hugo, sarcastically put a hand to his heart, and flipped his white-blond hair over his shoulder, smiling, Milos reflection caught in this thin-rimmed glasses.

“Hugo - can you just do it already?!” Poppy asked.

“Only if Milo admits picking locks isn't as easy as he thought.” Hugo put his hands on his hips.

“Hugo, we don't have time for this!”

Hugo pushed out his bottom lip, pouting.

“Milo please, just say it. We don't want anyone getting caught tonight.” A boy, Chase, was huddled behind her leg, trying to stay hidden, and seemed to slink further into darkness when the idea of being caught was mentioned.

Milo sighed deeply but through gritted teeth admitted: “Fine Hugo. I was wrong. It isn’t as easy as I thought.” Milo stood up and stood to the side leaving enough room for Hugo.

Hudo smiled fakely, “and?”

“You're not getting any compliments outta me Hugh.” Milo laughed and ruffled Hugo’s hair, pushing him down to the ground.

“Eh, worth a shot” Hugo put his hand into his pants pocket and pulled out a little mechanical mouse. She looked up at him, twisting her head side to side.

“Okay Cheese, you know what to do.” He stroked her back, before placing her in the keyhole of the door.

Cheese squeaked once, before diving further into the keyhole. Within a few seconds she unlocked the door and climbed back out the keyhole and leaped onto Hugos shoulder.

“Voilà!”

"It's not really picking locks if you get a mouse to do it." Milo complained.

"Milo." Poppy scolded.

"Well I made Cheese, so it's still technically me picking the lock!"

"Hugo!" Poppy lightly slapped his shoulder.

"What?!" Hugo turned to Milo, "Plus, I could pick that lock even faster than Cheese!" Cheese squeaked in offence, "Sorry girl! You're right, you're perfect." Hugo patted her gently between the ears and was met with her motor whirring in a cat-like purr.

Milo rolled his eyes, ignoring the two.

"Can we please just get inside and get the job done now?" Poppy raised her eyebrows, and was met with a mumbling of agreement from the two boys, “Okay! This should be quick,” Poppy slowly crept down the hatch and into the basement, beckoning the three boys to follow her.. “Milo, you need to guard that door.” She pointed to a door inside the basement that led into the house. Milo walked over to the door and sat parallel to it, biting at his fingernails. Milo had olive skin and a face full of freckles, his black hair was curly and dirty - he shabbily cut it to ear length from his shoulders, when the length was starting to annoy him. It still did that but he could rarely be bothered to chop it again.

“Hugo, search for the heaviest crate in here.”

“Because that’ll have the best loot… obviously.” Hugo rolled his eyes and jumped down the hatch. Hugo was lanky, but still hadn’t hit his growth spurt, he had pale skin and light messy hair which he always tied into a ponytail, he wore thin rimmed glasses - without them he could barely even see his own hand. Cheese was the mechanical mouse he had made two years ago, and since then he had never been without her. Hugo went to the left hand side of the room and started digging through crates.

“Chase, I need you to-”

“Guard the hatch, yep I know Poppy! I won’t get distracted this time, I promise!” Chase bounded up, out of the shadows he had been hiding in.

“Yeah, we all believe that.” Hugo rolled his eyes and smiled teasingly.

“None of that Hugo!” Poppy bit back, “Don’t listen to him Chase, you’ve got this.”

Chase smiled proudly and crossed his arms sternly at the base of the hatch. Chase had pale skin and spiky brown hair. Poppy quietly walked over to the left hand side of the room and started searching through the crates. Poppy was Hugo’s older sister and his only family left, she had pale skin and long light hair with an undercut. She, Hugo and Milo found Chase on the streets during a heist and knew they had to look after him. Milo just sort of, showed up near their hideout one day and he and Hugo instantly became friends. Hugo begged Poppy to let him stay and she caved seeing how happy he was to finally have a friend.

“I think I found something” Hugo called over his shoulder.

“Mmm?” Poppy questioned, still searching through her crates.

“It's heavy and full O’ golden stuff… I'm pretty sure it's all genuine gold.”

Poppy walked over and looked over Hugos shoulder to see into the crate.

“You're right Hugo! Fill your bag, the sooner we fill our bags, the sooner we can get back to safety” Poppy knelt down next to Hugo and they both swung a satchel off of their shoulders and started shovelling gold in.

Cheese jumped off of Hugos shoulder, and into the crate, and started grabbing little coins and trinkets, tossing them into Hugos satchel.

“Guys, I can hear someone” Milo jumped up and pulled his dagger out of his pocket and turned to face the door he had been guarding.

He backed away from the door, moving towards the siblings. The two slung their now almost full satchels over their shoulders (Hugo almost being pulled backwards by the weight),

“Chase, go. Run to the hideout, don't stop running till you’re there.” Poppy ordered, speaking under her breath and backing towards the hatch exit.

Chase nodded and quickly climbed up the ladder jumping out of the hatch, and sprinting away down the street. The three could hear a mans voice on the other side of the door and could see candle light seeping under the doorway.

“Quickly.” Poppy prompted movement in the three, jumping onto the ladder and throwing herself up and out the hatch.

Poppy leant down with her hand outstretched, reaching for Hugo, he took her hand and pulled himself out of the hatch with her help. The two reached down, grabbing Milo, pulling him out too. Candle light filled the room, the mans voice grew angry, mumbling about thieves, and together the three ran.

Hugo fell to the back of the group tapping his shoulder to pat Cheese. Only then did he realise she wasn’t there. He tapped his pockets and realised she wasn’t with him. He instantly stopped running and yelled “Cheese!”

“What about her?!” Poppy yelled over her shoulder.

“She's still in the basement!” Hugo turned around and started running.

“Hugo!” Milo and Poppy yelled, stopping and turning to face his back, Milo rolling his eyes.

“You’ll just need to make another one!” Poppy yelled angrily, starting to chase him.

“There isn’t another one of her!”

“You already have all the parts Hugh!" Milo reminded him.

“You don't get it!” Hugo sped up, “Just go home, I’ll be back soon, I promise!”

“Hugo!”

“No Poppy, go home!”

If you wanna read more go to the attached link!!