Words aren't always easy to say, especially if you have none to begin with.
Both had their breaths figuratively stolen at the beautiful peach skies, the sun setting in the distance and the day slowly coming to a close.
A well-dressed duck, clad in a yellow dress shirt and green suit, walked down the lightly illuminated street. He had briefly watched the grey clouds in the sky drift away from the heavens' centre, then looked to the child, or for better word, teen, walking beside him.
Her expression was dull, watching the ground. The sky hadn't caught her interest for long. It would almost seem as if she were eyeing her shadow, but she could just so easily be watching the passing cracks in the pavement. She had a backpack over her shoulder, though he doubts there is much in it.
Gladstone Gander observed her expression, though was ultimately unsure of what sentence he'd say to it. The silence was making him uncomfortable, way more than a room's flicker of pages in a sound of nothingness.
He opened his mouth to say something, but the young duck spoke first.
"Whatever you're about to ask, no," she cut in, her tone recluse and withdrawn.
His eyes grew wide in surprise, and his gaze moved to the side quickly.
"Lena," he mumbled quietly.
The response was a cold, almost pleading stare – you wouldn't think those two emotions could blend, but they did, and she wore them well.
Gladstone sighed in reply. He looked to the skies once more, then brightened a little.
"Okay, so we don't have to talk about any that mushy ahhhh-whatever stuff. But the sky looks pretty great, right?"
Elbowed gently, Lena turned to glare at him, but the sky caught her eyes and she bit back the irritation. That irritation was replaced with awe.
"I guess. This is just from the cityscape though. You ever seen from the pier?"
Gladstone folded his arms, grinning slightly. "Oh, have I ever seen it from the pier? From a golden cruise ship? Have I—"
"I get the point," Lena interrupted wryly, unable to decide if she should scowl at his arrogance or smirk at his apparent silliness.
She noticed a bead of sweat down his face, and he looked sheepish.
"Yeeeaah."
The older bird rubbed the back of his neck, saying a few words quite quickly.
"…I haven't stayed in it long enough."
"What, the golden cruise ship?" she remarked. "Must not be real, then. Most people would have that first on their agenda."
Gladstone huffed. Was she doubting the validity of his statement? Someone told the kid about his ridiculous luck, right? Did… he have to tell her himself? He shook his head and folded his arms, thinking momentarily of the ocean.
"Not me."
His thoughts drifted briefly to Donald. If there was anyone he associated the ocean with, it was his dear cousin. The cousin that most likely hated him to the core… and wondered why he never used the ship.
"So… do you like the pier?" he asked suddenly, trying to divert the conversation elsewhere.
He regretted asking that. Her mood seemed to drop a little – there was no malice there, just sadness.
"That's… probably a better question in past tense," the teenager admitted truthfully.
Some said the ocean was pretty. The best thing about it was seeing the horizon. For Lena, that had been true, but it wasn't anymore. Memories of her aunt scorning, threatening, and manipulating her sucked away whatever beauty she saw in the ocean away. Her body still felt cold.
"You don't like it anymore?" He cocked his head curiously, turning to look at her and bending a little. "What changed?"
Lena stopped, and so did he. Without a doubt, he'd struck a nerve, and she was only just processing that.
Instead of answering, she exhaled, trying to level her emotions before facing the lucky duck again. Her expression was stern – its annoyance returned.
"How long do we have left to walk?"
Fortunately, they'd been talking enough for the conversation to no longer go sour. They'd stopped directly in front of a skyscraper, littered with sparkling windows and a tube—that was most likely the building's elevator—leading to the top.
Lena's eyes widened, and she looked to Gladstone, staring at him in bafflement.
"You live here?"
He made a rounding motion with his hand, as if trying to calculate something and only finding an estimate.
"Only about… 14% of the time."
"But you don't even have a job, do you? How are you doing this?"
He put his hands on his hips, growing slightly impatient. "Didn't your, uh… Webby friend tell you anything about me?"
"Webby tells me about a lot of things. You zone in and out," she replied, eyes rolling to the side. "I remember she told me you were willing to doom your cousin to eternity in some cursed casino though."
Gladstone grew immediately indignant.
"It wasn't like that – I – I couldn't lose – I – I just – I saved everyone with my deliciously good luck!" he insisted, folding his arms and looking offended.
"You ever heard of the five stages of grief?" Lena responded. A cheeky smirk formed on her expression.
Gladstone fervently refused to look at her.
"And… delicious?" she inquired, her face disturbed at his choice of wording.
"Context… context – you… you had to be there, okay?" he got out eventually, turning to walk inside the glamorous building. "Come on."
As the automatic doors rolled open and Gladstone passed through them, Lena looked up at the height of the building.
Good luck… right.
She couldn't imagine how long it would have taken to build it. She had to admit though, it sure was a flashy building if she ever saw one. The windows were polished, some even had balconies. The possibility of her seeing the ground from either of the above heights was a bit jarring.
She saw Gladstone checking through his mailbox inside – there was no surprise clear on his face, as if he expected every piece of mail the box threw at him. His eyelids were low as he skimmed the names.
It was weird how one could act so casual when the day was far from an ordinary one. If this were an ordinary day for Lena, she'd ditch this guy the first chance she got – leave him in the dust like she had all of her boarding schools.
Nothing was stopping her actually.
A gentle breeze pushed her hair into her face, and she readjusted it. She squinted in the wind's direction akin to expressing displeasure at an enemy playing a prank on her.
Then, like a disapproving parent, the beautiful sky spat on her. Droplets hit her fur. She watched as the ground was splattered with clear liquid. She took a several steps back as it splashed against her shoes, and then looked up at the sky in quiet wonder.
It had been so pleasant a few seconds ago. It had changed just like that.
It was a metaphor Lena herself could resonate with.
Her eyes focused on the distance.
Could she handle that? Being alone again? Being terrified of her own shadow, even when the life within it was gone? What would she even do?
Webby would probably worry for her, if she kept seeing her. Probably say something like being alone was the worst thing Lena could do to herself, and Lena knew. That's why she'd do it.
"Lena?"
Gladstone stood at the door, a couple of steps away from its censor. His eyes were confused, watching the rain crash gently against her with concern.
Cold, tired, and wet, Lena decided.
"Yeah, whatever, I'm coming."
She pulled her backpack over her shoulder, the backpack with the words 'good luck!' written on it in red marker– the excited scribbles of Webby Vanderquack had almost washed away in the rain.
She entered the building with a resigned sigh, passing Gladstone Gander and the point of no return.
There was another reason Lena resonated with the sky and still would.
Its droplets built over time, its sorrow hidden from the world only by clouds – and with colours only some would be able to decipher.
"I had a feeling it was going to rain," mused Gladstone Gander as he guided Lena inside.
S'up! I'm Toxi, and I finally decided to post this story on this site!
This story is based on the principle where Gladstone adopts Lena after an altered version of the Shadow War; the Dadstone AU was created waaaay before the finale, but I got attached to these two, honestly.
Anyway! The next two chapters are written up already and I'll be gradually uploading them so as not to spam chapters all at once, haha. I hope you enjoy my writing of these two, and lemme know what you think! ^-^
