#Uno/Donald Drabble Thing

[adamarinayu]

Looking through my phone, trying to decide if I wrote anything on my breaks that I’m comfortable with sharing...

Found this extremely short little drabble that was kind of a sequel to the ��Let’s run away together” drabble. 

Note, I write a lot shorter and a lot less detailed on my phone. Maybe that’ll change when I get a new one...

Donald was curled up beside him, sound asleep (in Uno's bed, even though he had his own literally right across the room...) as the sea rocked the boat under them. Uno didn't mind, listening to Donald's breathing as he sat against the headboard, reading a new book he'd found online during their last time time shore.

Uno didn't need to sleep, nor did he want to. Someone had to make sure everything went according to plan, after all.

It had been two weeks since they took off, leaving nothing but a note for Scrooge and Della to find upon their return home.

"I'm safe," Uno remembered Donald writing. "I'm not kidnapped or anything. We've simply decided to go on our own adventure. Love you, goodbye."

Scrooge and Della had returned a few days after that. They knew, because when they went ashore to get supplies Donald had about fifty missed calls and his texts were maxed out. Donald simply turned his phone off.

There were no regrets.

Beside him, Donald shifted and looped an arm around Uno's waist, using his lap as a pillow.

Oh great, now I can't move.

Well, things could be worse, he figured.

Scrooge and Della would eventually find them. When they did, they would be furious. But it was okay. There would be a while before that happened- Uno would make sure of it.

For now, he was just enjoying the peace.

[zixinyu]

Soft hearted Donald and Android!Uno in bed. I didn’t really know what design to give Uno as an android so for now, he is basically just a short haired version of Odin Eidolon. Heavily inspired from @adamarinayu’s PK DT17 AU, with minor differences because I haven’t finished PKNA yet, so a few things I’ve left out because I have no idea what is going on in the ending just yet. I hope you won’t mind if I take some inspiration from your work! Please let me know if you do!

I drew it to accompany my short drabble; “Just Like This”, which you can find on AO3 here!

[adamarinayu]

So I wrote a small Dark Ducks Lite AU thing (oneshot? Drabble? Idk) so here.

Context; This society has three classes of people; Mundane (non-magic biological folk), Magi (magic folk) and Androids (non-biological folk). Donald is a Magi from a family of Mundane. A childhood accident with his magic left both him and Della scarred, and in a terrible misunderstanding Donald ran away afterwards, feeling like his family was rejecting him. A little over 20 years later he lives in Duckburg as Paperinik, living in Ducklair Tower with Uno, an Android (who are below both Mundane and Magi in the social class system). An event in the city led him to kidnapping Scrooge, Gladstone, Della and Della’s children (and Webby), none of whom know Paperinik is Donald. Donald reveals his identity, to the adults’ shock and the children’s confusion, and Donald learns they never told the children about him. He is not surprised, and further solidifies his idea that he was rejected from the family. This scene is directly after.

“Wait!”

The masked duck stopped and turned to look sharply at the green-clad duckling and his brothers and sister. They skid to a stop, each running into the next in line until Louie was knocked off his feet.

Donald didn’t move, instead watching as the duckling in red pulled his fallen triplet to his feet.

“We don’t understand,” Dewey spoke up, stepping around his brothers. There was a strange look in his eyes, and Donald’s gaze slid upwards as the three adults came to a stop behind the kids.

Scrooge looked wary and Della... he wasn’t sure. She looked worried. Gladstone just looked upset. This wasn’t ideal to any of them.

A strange energy was coursing through the building. Donald knew Uno wasn’t happy he let them out of their cells, but Donald- better than anyone else- knew that the building itself was the best cage possible, when Uno wanted it to be.

They couldn’t go anywhere the Droid and Magi didn’t want them to.

“If you’ve been in Duckburg this whole time, why didn’t you just- come home? Why haven’t we ever met you? Or heard of you?!” Louie demanded, pointing accusingly at Donald. As if it was his fault. 

He would have laughed, if it wasn’t so... sad.

“I don’t go where I’m not welcome,” Donald answered simply, staring his twin in the eyes. She seemed surprised by his words, but before she could say anything he added, “As for why you’ve never heard of me, ask them. They’re the ones who didn’t tell you about your Magi uncle.”

“Magi?” Huey’s words stumbled in his shock. “You mean you’re-”

“What else would disgrace one of the McDuck heirs?” Donald snorted, turning away from the people he had once called his family. “Ever wondered how your mother got that scar?”

Of course it hadn’t been on purpose, but the children had no way of knowing that. They had no way of knowing Donald, only seven years old, had lost control of his magic. That it had exploded when he was right in front of Della- that the matching scar, hidden under his mask, was just as accidental as his sister’s.

“Uncle Donald-”

He didn’t know which one said it. It didn’t matter, though. He whipped around and snapped, “Don’t call me that!”

His words shocked the children into silence, and Della moved closer to her children and honorary niece. Or daughter. Donald wasn’t sure. Webby didn’t call Della ‘mom’ so he doubted she was related biologically to them.

“But- you’re our uncle,” Dewey stuttered, blinking. It was an action Donald recognized from years of looking at himself in the mirror- wondering why he wasn’t good enough, what made him so bad, blinking back tears as he tried so hard not to hate himself. To not feel so hurt.

“You don’t even know me,” Donald told the child, tensing up and lifting his chin. He refused to let all his childhood doubts flood back in. “None of you do.”

“Then- let us get to know you!” Webby finally spoke up, pleading as she stepped away from Donald’s twin. None of the adults stopped her, though they looked as tense as Donald felt. “Let us help you!”

“Help me?” he snorted. Sure, he was technically a villain- petty thievery, vengeance and, now, kidnapping were on his neat little record, and he had control over basically every criminal ring in the city by now. Help? It was laughable. “Why would you possibly want to help me?”

“Because whether you like it or not, you’re family,” Huey spoke up, determined. “And family helps family.”

The words were familiar, even though he hadn’t heard them in over twenty years. Not since he was seven, not since he fled their anger and rejection. 

They made him feel cold, though, and the silence that fell was heavy, like a burden none of them knew what to do with. It was suffocating, and Donald stared at them, gaze turning colder with every passing second.

Gladstone, at the very least, seemed to realize the hypocrisy behind the lesson they had instilled into these children. He looked away, an expression almost akin to shame settling behind his eyes.

“So you’re still saying that old motto, huh?” Donald almost laughed as he looked at his uncle, sister and cousin. “Funny, considering you didn’t even tell them I existed.” His gaze dropped back to the children. “I learned a long time ago that family doesn’t always help family. There are exceptions to every rule.”

He flicked his cape and turned around, continuing down the cold metal hallway.

“And I’ve always been that exception.”

[adamarinayu]

A Return

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six Part Seven | Part Eight |

So I have finished this “story” at 12 little drabble-chapters (I call them drabbles because they fall short of my typical 2,000+ words...) but I’m gonna post them slowly. Granted, by “slowly” I mean the other seven parts will probably be posted tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.

This can’t be happening.

It was almost a silent plea with the universe.

That’s all behind me now.

Scrooge gave him a strange, questioning look before leaving the room, giving Donald and their guests the privacy requested. The children were, thankfully, at school, and not there to spy on them from the vents.

He can’t be here.

But he was.

Stood before him was Everett Ducklair- a duck Donald both loved and hated the sight of. The duck who created Uno, the duck who took Uno- and the tower- away from Donald for good.

He stood there, another duck around Donald’s height by his side.

“It’s been a long time, Paperinik,” Everett greeted him. Donald flinched.

“Yeah,” he agreed. “I’m not Paperinik anymore.”

The stranger seemed surprised- maybe he hadn’t been aware that Donald was Paperinik- but Everett just smiled.

“Now you know that isn’t true.”

“It is. My kids come first now.”

“Then you are definitely still Paperinik.”

Donald raised a brow. “You seem pretty convinced of that.” He shifted his weight to the left, glancing at the other duck. “Why are you here, Everett?”

“To tell you the Evronians are back,” Everett answered simply. “They’ve joined forces and are coming here.”

Donald tensed up, staring at Everett. “Why? It’s been twelve years.”

“Recuperation, and getting the reports from the survivors,” Everett dismissed, stepping over to Donald and setting a hand on his shoulder. Donald glanced at it and seriously considered shrugging it off. “Old friend, I know it’s not fair of me to come here into your home where your family lives, but you must understand- this is bigger than just you and your family. They’re not coming to coolflamize your people, or gather slaves, or any such thing- they come, intending to destroy your world and everything on it.”

“And how do you know this?” Donald demanded, brushing Everett’s hand away.

“Simple; we intercepted their communications, Old Cape.”

Donald’s gaze snapped over to the other duck, who was watching him with a familiar intent. The voice was familiar, and there was only one person in the world- the universe- who ever called Donald Old Cape.

He hesitated for just a moment. “Uno...?”

“Took you long enough.”

“Well it wasn’t obvious! I mean, you look very different, you know!”

Uno grinned at him, such a familiar action on an unfamiliar face. “Focus, Donald, this is a serious conversation,” he reminded the former hero. “We intercepted the communication between three different emperors and came here as fast as the ship would allow us.”

“You’re-”

“An android, yes. The ships are no more than three and a half days behind us, there isn’t much time to prepare.”

“Why-”

“Another time, Donald.”

Donald wanted to hug his friend- but it had been twelve years. That was a large gap. He wanted to hug Uno and not let go- but maybe Uno didn’t miss Donald as much as Donald missed Uno? He wasn’t sure- maybe Uno wouldn’t be okay with being hugged? He’d never had a body before, and besides-

Twelve years was a long time.

And, as Uno had said, he and Everett had come for a very specific, serious reason. Maybe he wouldn’t even be around very long- just long enough to help him save the world.

So, he took a breath and rubbed his forehead. Through the vents he heard the front door slam open, four sets of feet scampering across the foyer tile accompanied by the children’s laughter. Gladstone’s voice was softer, calmer, more relaxed as he warned the kids that Scrooge would make them clean the mud they’d tracked in.

If the world was in danger, so was his family.

His family was the one thing he wanted to protect, more than anything else.

“Right,” he agreed with a sigh. “I don’t want to, but if I need to then I have to,” he decided firmly, hearing through the vent as Huey yelled for his brothers to do their homework like he and Webby were.

Uno’s gaze flicked over to the vent, no doubt able to hear the children just a few rooms over, loud as they were.

The android then shared a look with Everett, the latter shrugging slightly. Uno looked back at Donald and stepped forward.

“Good. And also,” Uno started, smiling at Donald, “it’s good to see you again, partner.”

Donald found himself pulled into a hug by the AI- the android?- his friend, and quickly he hugged him back. Twelve years was too long- but this was so much more than Donald was expecting. He was expecting never, after all.

“... And now; when the hell did you have kids?!”

Oh. He probably should have worded that better.

[adamarinayu]

Sorry I haven’t gotten back to the prompted drabbles, I planned on doing some yesterday but I wasn’t home for the most part.

This is, once again, what I wrote during my 15 minute break :’D And it is... yet a different AU. My apologies :’D

He didn't want to be here.

The mansion loomed over him, most of the lights out but plenty lit up behind the curtains on the windows. It almost seemed to mock him with its haunting liveliness.

He took a breath- a habit he learned from Donald. He ascended the front steps and pushed the doorbell.

He didn't want to do this.

It took a few moments, but eventually the door was opened by the ghostly (literally...) figure of Duckworth.

The butler looked down at him, unimpressed. However, rather than question how he got past the front gate without being buzzed in, he simply asked, "Yes?"

He had to give the dog props for not attempting to chase him off immediately. His tone told the duck that he was very much so not welcome here- he wasn’t sure if it was his mussed feathers or his torn clothing. Either way, he knew, he was quite a sight. 

From inside the mansion, children laughed merrily.

It was too bright. Too sunny. Too lively. It was mocking him.

"My name is Uno Eidolon," he began, "and I'm Donald's best friend."

Duckworth didn't look impressed. "Donald is not here right now."

"I know," Uno said, voice dropping- it hurt. His hand tightened around the hat he held, drawing Duckworth's attention to it.

Recognition lit up in the dog's eyes.

"That's why I'm here," Uno told the dog, gaze falling to the sailor's hat as he lifted it up. "There was an... accident."

Donald wasn't coming home.

That fact echoed in Scrooge's mind. The duck in front of him- they stood, with Duckworth and Beakley as witnesses, in Scrooge's office- telling him that his nephew was gone.

Taken away in a flash of light. The hat was all that remained.

More importantly- the duck was saying that Donald was Paperinik, confirming a terrible suspicion the old duck had held for years.

He disappeared while on patrol. This duck- this Uno Eidolon, supposedly Donald's best friend- was the only witness.

Scrooge didn't want to believe it.

Eidolon didn't seem to be lying. He had Donald's hat, and it was definitely Donald's- his name was written inside in what was undoubtedly Donald's handwriting. Scrooge even remembered watching him write his name on a tag inside the day he received it from Della.

Scrooge still didn’t want to believe it. He refused.

He threw himself into searching for Donald, an act Eidolon didn’t seem intent in stopping-

(Uno also hoped Donald was not gone- that maybe that flash of light that seemed to consume him had only sent him elsewhere, that he would be found...)

- but in the end it was futile. 

Donald was gone. Scrooge’s resources couldn’t find him.

(Nor could Everett Ducklair’s satellites or Uno’s scanners. It was like the duck never even existed)

For the second time, Scrooge buried an empty casket right next to Della’s-

(And the boys and Webby didn’t even know Della had a plot in that old cemetery, but when asked Scrooge simply explained that since Della wasn’t actually buried there none of them felt a need to visit)

- and the world continued turning.

Uno never did escape the Duck-McDuck family. Being the person who saw Donald for the last time, who heard his last words, who was there for most of his adventures, who knew him better than anyone else in the world- being the person who knew Donald in ways no one else did... 

The children clung to him. The way they saw it, he was their only connection to their uncle. They asked him questions about their uncle, about his adventures and battles and- well, everything.

Really, he could have left whenever he wanted to- he could have walked away, the same way he’d walked in. If he didn’t want to be found, they would never find him. He could have left.

He didn’t.

These were Donald’s kids- and they knew nothing about the uncle they all loved so much.

So he stayed. He answered their questions-

(Not all of them, there were some things eleven year olds didn’t need to hear and Donald would have killed him if he told them...)

- and told them everything he knew about Donald Fauntleroy Duck.

By the time the children were sixteen, five years later, they knew everything they needed to know and Uno could have left. But by then he had become a usual fixture in the family- it was just assumed he’d be there in the morning, that he would attend dinner-

(He learned three months in about this. He didn’t show up in the dining room at 7 o’clock, when dinner was served, and was hunted down by Beakley and the children)

-  that he would be there to bounce ideas off of,that he would be there to help with science or math homework-

(And Uno didn’t realize he had basically become their second- third?- parent until Gladstone commented on Uno showing Huey how to balance a complex equation for his advanced chemistry class)

- that he would just be there. The way Donald couldn’t, anymore. The way Scrooge and Gladstone didn’t really know how to be.

Gladstone came back for the empty-casket funeral, and he simply never left. He was clinging to what remained of his family, and Scrooge was following suit.

Somehow, Uno found himself slowly being pulled into this family he had resented for years- they didn’t value Donald the way he had, hadn’t treated Donald the way he deserved to be treated, hadn’t loved him the way Donald needed to be loved. 

Uno hated them. 

Uno loved them.

They were all he had left of Donald, and the longer he was with them the more he realized just how much they had loved Donald.

Maybe that was why he stayed anyway.

Far away, out of the reach of his family, Donald looked up at the sky and leaned against his rake.

The skies were so blue- so clear- without a cloud in sight. Dimly, he felt something niggling at his mind, a familiar feeling that he couldn’t quite place.

He dropped his gaze to the fields beyond the yard, watching the farmhands hard at work. Normally Donald would be out there, too, but Farmer Lira had asked him to rake the yard- the leaves were piling up, as autumn was halfway through, and they would be a fire hazard before too long.

“Uncle Donald!”

The duck turned to look at a puppy run over to him- Lira’s ten year old son. He had a big grin on his face as he held something up for the duck to see.

A crudely-woven basket was the source of the little pup’s pride. Donald smiled.

“Good job, Levi,” he said, mussing the pup’s hair. Levi squealed and playfully batted at his hand. “I’m glad you finally got it! What did Teacher say?”

“He said it’s a good start,” the little boy beamed up at him. “Mam said she’d show me how to do it cleaner next time!”

“It took me a bit to figure basket weaving out,” Donald told the little pup, kneeling down to be on his level. “You’ll get the hang of it, and soon you’ll have the best basket in this whole village!”

Levi bounced happily and hugged Donald. 

Donald felt like this was familiar as he hugged his adoptive nephew back.

He’d been in this village for five years now. He had worked on this farm that entire time, living with Lira and Levi, helping her raise her son after her husband ran out on them. He had hugged this puppy a million times, and every time brought back that familiar feeling.

Something felt missing.

He just couldn’t remember what it was.