The Golden Heart

Chapter 2

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Later in the evening, after having had a humiliating day at work, Fenton was busy trying to forget his horrible degrading day by finally sorting through all the laundry in the house.

"You know, this shade of blue is actually very appealing. I should wear it more often!" commented the accountant as he pulled off Scrooge's jacket and set it on his bed. He had promised Scrooge to give it back to him and in return, Scrooge had offered to give him one of his old blankets in exchange for him to sleep with. This caused the accountant to blush furiously. 'He DOES care!' he thought to himself giddily.

He then remembered Scrooge's statement just after the offer, "I need ya to stay focused and if parting with an old blanket of mine is what it takes t'get you t'focus, so be it! Now go home and do some laundry so ya have proper clothes, ye dingus!"

Fenton shrugged, opting to ignore that last comment. Scrooge cared and that was that!

It was about an hour later, when Fenton was digging through the cupboards of their kitchen, figuring out what he was going to cook for supper, when there was a distinct knock on the door.

"Fenton! Someone's banging on the door again! Make them stop! I'm trying to watch my soap opera!" came Iva's annoyed shout from the couch. Fenton turned around and sighed at his mother before heading over to the doorway.

He opened the door to find none other than Flintheart Glomgold on the other side.

"Mr. Glomgold! Ehh- To what do I owe the pleasure?" greeted Fenton uncertainly.

Flintheart, however, was too busy sneering at his surroundings. Even to Fenton, it was rather surreal to see someone such as Glomgold to be in the trailer park that was known as his home neighborhood. Not unlike the odd sight of seeing Scrooge there; the few times he's stopped by to speak with his accountant.

"There's nothin' pleasurable about this visit, I assure yeh" grumbled Flintheart as he leaned heavily on his cane. He finally turned his steely eyes to Fenton. He took in the 'Happy Ducky University' sweatshirt the accountant was currently wearing. "'Happy Ducky', eh? Is this somethin' else ya borrowed? From a college student perhaps? Or is this item of clothing actually yers?"

Fenton looked down at the sweatshirt in surprise. He pulled unconsciously at it before looking back up. "It's mine. I went there, ya know!"

Flintheart gave a wicked smirk. "Course ya did."

"Would you two stop yappin'?! I'm trying to watch my show!" came Iva's irate shout from her spot on the couch.

Fenton turned to glance at his lazy mother while Flintheart leaned over slightly to look around the accountant. His eyes landed on Iva and instantly took in her unfinished hair and pink bath robe. His hand was to his beak as he tried not to burst out laughing. "Ya live with yer mother too!?"

Fenton whirled back around with a confused frown. "Doesn't everybody?"

This innocent naive question only caused Flintheart to laugh even harder. After a moment of collecting himself, though still chortling with laughter between words, Flintheart said, "Oh, I'll tell ya, Crackshell, I'm beginnin' t'think yeh were put on this Earth simply for my amusement! Yeh just keep getting more an' more pathetic!"

Fenton tilted his head. "Oh, well, I'm always glad to help brighten a person's day with some laughter. But uh...I haven't done anything yet. You should wait till I start telling my knock-knock jokes! You'll REALLY be laughin'!" He beamed at himself, not realizing how insulting Flintheart was actually being.

A commercial must have come on for Iva had turned her head to glare at their visitor. "Who are you? You're not McDuck."

Glomgold scoffed. "'Course I'm not McDuck! I'm even better! The name is Flintheart Glomgold."

"Alright, Mr. 'I'm Better Than McDuck', why are you in our home?" was Iva's next question. She glanced at the television to make sure her soap opera hadn't come back on.

"Why, I'm here to have a little chat with yer son Fenton here" replied Glomgold as he pointed to Fenton with his cane.

Fenton blinked, turning back to Glomgold. "M-Me?"

Glomgold pushed his way past Fenton, finally entering the trailer fully. Fenton closed the door out of nervous politeness. The zillionaire peered around at his surroundings with a look of disgust; barely noticing the over piled garbage can he was next to before flinching away from it. He pulled his hat tighter on his head before turning to Fenton and Iva. "Yes, you see-" he began with a pause. He looked at Fenton straight in the eyes. "I wish to apologize."

Seeing that the commercials were over, Iva went back to watching television, clearly not interested in his 'apology'.

Fenton blinked. "Apologize? Whatever for?"

Glomgold looked surprised. "Certainly yer aware it was I who outed you and McDuck to the press all those months ago."

Fenton shifted uncomfortably at the reminder of the sudden onslaught of ruthless paparazzi and news reports who had demanded to know the truth about the relationship he was having with Scrooge. The media had gone into a frenzy and, of course, thanks to Glomgold, most of the press was bad press. Scrooge's companies had suffered as brokers and stock holders drew back after such a revelation that the companies they invested in was run by a homosexual. The fact that Fenton was so much younger than Scrooge hadn't helped matters in the least. Thankfully, due to some well placed sources and the help of a family friend, everything had turned out for the better and Scrooge was making more money now than ever.

"Oh, right. Heh. That was sort of wrong and mean and...just darn right rude of you to do something like that" grumbled Fenton. "Had one heck of a time!"

Glomgold took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as he looked down at the ground. "I am truly sorry, Crackshell. Ya must understand..." he began before clearing his throat.

"Okay, if you two are gonna be yappin' in my ears, go into the other room! Or at least the other side of the kitchen! I'm watchin' my shows!" groused Iva.

Glomgold looked murderous at her interruption, but the look quickly disappeared back to sad guilt as Fenton glanced his way. The accountant guided Glomgold further into the trailer and more towards the kitchenette. "There. Just speak quieter. Trust me, she only gets more cranky if you keep being loud" he stage whispered to the older duck.

Glomgold resisted the urge to roll his eyes, instead sneering at the unwashed dishes in the sink. His attention then quickly went back to his story. "As I was sayin', lad. Ya need t'understand. I am a business man. By nature, we're ruthless. As I'm sure you've seen with Scrooge."

Fenton thought about it for a moment before saying, "Um...Perhaps a bit strong willed and set in ways, but I wouldn't say 'ruthless'! I mean-He plays fair!"

Once again, Glomgold's somber expression flickered to one of irritation and anger before reverting back and it was once again unnoticed by Fenton. "Well, perhaps ya don't know Scrooge as well as ya think ya do."

Fenton frowned at that and shook his head. "Oh, no! I know Scroogie! He's not ruthless! He's stubborn and bull headed, sure, but NOT ruthless!"

Glomgold's facade faded as he said darkly, "Well I am!" After a moment he collected himself. He adjusted the little glasses at the end of his beak. "Err-Rather-I was! See, Crackshell, that's what I'm tryin' t'get at."

It was then that Flintheart Glomgold gave Fenton Crackshell a puppy dog eye look, which caused Fenton to take a step back in alarm. He had NOT been expecting THAT.

"I am gettin' old, Crackshell" continued Glomgold. "And if there is one thing this old duck has learned its that ya only live once. After sellin' ya out to the press like I did, I did some soul searching."

Fenton, at this point, was hanging onto Glomgold's every word. "So, you're saying you've seen the error of your ways and realizing that deep down you're actually a nice, kind, deeply emotional person and you wish to take it all back? Fix all the horrible mistakes you've made over the years and finally connect with people instead of pushing them away for money?"

There was a moment of silence as Glomgold took in his words with wide eyes. "Yeah, sure."

Fenton beamed in happiness. "Good for you, Mr. Glomgold! Well, if that's the case, I forgive you! After all, it's not your fault you are an unloved, bitterly lonely duck who's only obsession is money. I myself have always believed that people can change! Everyone deserves a second chance! That's all you're asking for, isn't it Mr. Glomgold."

The older duck nodded. "It sure is, Crackshell." Glomgold then glowered at him, his eyes narrowing. "But you know, Crackshell, when I came over here, I thought that instead of simply asking for your forgiveness, I should do something to repay you as well."

"Nahh, you don't need to do that!" chuckled Fenton with good nature. He pulled at his sweatshirt, still unable to shake the uneasy nerves or the butterflies that were starting in his stomach. He couldn't help but wonder what Scrooge would think if he knew he was speaking to Glomgold. He knew the duck had done far more than what he was apologizing for. But, he was still apologizing, right? So, that made him an okay guy after all, right? He deserved a chance, didn't he?

"Oh, but I insist, Crackshell." He pushed a thick envelope into Fenton's hands.

Fenton nearly dropped the envelope in his haste to grab it. "What's this?"

"Give that to ol' Scroogie. He'll know what it is. He wouldn't let me give it to him earlier. He was too busy kicking me out of his office" replied Glomgold evenly. The zillionaire watched as Fenton opened it to view its contents. As the accountant looked through he explained. "It's a collection of information I gathered about the 'Golden Heart'."

Fenton glanced up at those words. "'The Golden Heart'? Scroogie mentioned that today at work."

Glomgold nodded with a sigh. "I know. Consider it my peace offering from here on. Ya see, I would like to call a truce between Scrooge and me, but see, he just won't have it. He won't listen or believe me when I try to tell him-I truly am a changed duck."

Fenton titled his head in sympathy. "Scroogie is known for holding grudges, I suppose."

Glomgold nodded understandingly. "Precisely. So, what I'm trying to ask of you, Fenton..." Glomgold walked closer and looked at the accountant straight in the eyes. It didn't go unnoticed that the older duck had used his first name. "Is to help me get in good graces with McDuck. I can't do this alone. Surely you have it yer heart t'help an old duck like meself to try to atone for some of the many sins I've committed over the course of my life. I would do it myself but I told you, Scrooge won't have any of it. And I can't stand it anymore, lad. I need to make up for what I did to you both. Would ya deny an ol' bitter man such forgiveness?"

Fenton looked away, unnerved. "I-I don't know."

Glomgold tried a different tactic. "I originally meant to go and find that treasure meself, but then I figured, what better way to apologize than to give Scroogie something he loves so dear? A treasure hunt! It's just a shame I won't be able to go in the process. Even if it means never being the richest duck in the world. I'm the second richest. I've made my peace with that. But it proves how committed I am t'changin' my ways."

Fenton just stared at the duck in front of him. Glomgold was willing to give up treasure and possibly become the World's Richest Duck just so he could prove he was sorry?

Wow.

"G-Golly, Mr. Glomgold, I-I don't know what to say!" was Fenton's honest answer. He truly didn't know what to say. He glanced through the contents of the envelope once more. It was maps and old folklore and local businesses in the area of the supposed lost Golden Heart. It was located in a small town called Sitka.

Glomgold took off his hat and pouted. "I wanted t'give ya that envelope since I won't be needed that information. He wouldn't take it from me earlier today. I've given it up so that Scroogie can enjoy the adventure. Even after all the work I put into finding out what little there was t'find about the Golden Heart."

Fenton winced. "Well-You went to all this trouble-" He sifted through the maps and articles of legends concerning the treasure.

It was as though a light bulb went off in his head.

"Say! Why don't you just come with us! Scrooge was already planning on going! He told me earlier today! We'll be leaving the day after tomorrow! You could just come with us and we'll ALL get the treasure! That way you can prove to Scrooge how much you've changed by helping him get the treasure for himself!"

A large devious smile formed on Glomgold's beak, his eyes narrowing. "Why, Crackshell! Are ya sure?"

Fenton was too busy prattling on and looking through the documents to notice Glomgold's wicked smirk. "Sure, I'm sure! But don't tell Scrooge! I'll handle him! Just show up and we'll handle it from there! I'll have to call you and let you know the details of our departure!"

Glomgold nodded, grabbing Fenton's hand and shaking it hard, causing the accountant to drop everything. "Ya got yourself a deal, Crackshell! I'll be seein' ya soon! Heh heh!"

Glomgold was gone and out the door in such a rush that Fenton felt as though he was suffering from whiplash; his hand still held out from their handshake. He blinked. "What did I just do?"

Iva didn't turn her eyes away from the television but replied in a dead pan voice, "You just made a deal with the Devil, Fenton."

"What?"

Fenton walked around the couch to face his mother.

She looked up at him and snapped, "You didn't actually BELIEVE any of that bull crap, did you?"

Fenton pulled nervously at his collar. "Well, he seemed pretty sincere to me..."

Iva just narrowed her eyes and turned back to the television. "You got that idiocy from your father. I gotta keep telling myself that. And don't come crying to me when McDuck beats you half to death with his cane after he finds out you invited his arch-enemy with you on a treasure hunt."

Fenton winced. "I'm sure Mr. Glomgold was telling the truth! He wants to change! I believe it! And-And so should you!" he hollered in indignation. "I did the right thing! Everyone deserves a chance and I believe Mr. Glomgold can be a nice guy!"

"Let me know how that works out for ya" mumbled Iva.

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