2-6-18-27-51-62 McDuck and Gyro

"Just a few details more and it's done."

Five minutes later, Gyro took a few steps back wiping sweat from his forehead. It was finally done! A huge smile appeared on his beak.

"Okay, this little baby is officially one of my best inventions."

Lil bulb looked angrily at his inventor. How could he say such a thing? It was he his best invention, not this… thing.

Gyro guessed what Lil-bulb was thinking. His little helper had a lot of bad temper after all... like him…

"I repeat, one of my best inventions, NOT the best. You're really much better than this."

He looked at Lil-bulb while pointing his last invention. Lil-bulb seemed convinced at least for now. Hopefully he wouldn't try to destroy it. Something that would make Gyro really, really, really angry. He wanted to Mr. McDuck to see his invention before it explodes, get destroyed or something happens to it. Mr. McDuck… gyro was well aware he was just Scrooge's number one scientist. He even blinked once to Magica referring at him just as a employee. This is how Mr. McDuck saw him… not even a good friend… he had nobody close he could call… friend, he only had his inventions and a rich boss.

The elevator door opened suddenly. Gyro was surprised to hear that sound. Who could be there? He knew it couldn't be his intern, er- Dr. Crackshell-Cabrera, since the Hispanic duck was doing Gizmoduck things. Also, it couldn't be Manny since the horse was in a Training Course. Maybe it was the red nephew. This duckling was a little science lover… a great science lover, actually.

Okay, the only way to know who was there was turning to look at the elevator. Gyro did this and who he was there, was the last person he expected. In front of his eyes, there was Scrooge McDuck, standing there and looking at him with a stoic expression in his face.

"Mr. McDuck?"

"Gyro,"

The chicken looked away, not sure of what to say next. He really didn't expect to see his boss there. Surely Scrooge visited him sometimes, but it wasn't usual for him to do it.

"Sorry for my daring, but what are you doing here?" he finally asked. Scrooge tiddled his head and his face showed slight confusion to what Gyro had just asked.

His eyes suddenly opened and scratched the back of his neck shyly.

"Oh, Fenton told me ye were working on a new invention, and I thought to come here and see how were ye going." He admitted.

Gyro raised an eyebrow while crossing his arms over his chest. Scrooge McDuck almost never went down to his lab. Why was different this time?

"Really? I usually come to show my inventions to you,"

Scrooge seemed a little confused. Gyro couldn't blame him, Mr. McDuck didn't know what was on his mind after all.

"Yeah, well, I thought I could save ye this little travelling." The old duck admitted finally.

Save or spend money… this is all what seemed to be important for the rich duck. Gyro couldn't avoid to have his sarcasm shining with this situation.

"Wow, nice detail, for your employee…"

"Wait, what now?"

Gyro frowned while looking a completely surprised Scrooge. Would he have to explain even the most obvious things? Sometimes it sucked to be one of the cleverest minds in the world.

His voice came out maybe harder than he would want it to let be out.

"Oh, come on M. McDuck, you said once, I'm just your employee, not even a good friend."

Scrooge's eyes opened in shock, he seemed to be trying to remember when did he said that… well technically speaking, Scrooge didn't say it, but he blinked twice to Magica! One blink, good friend, two blinks, just a employee, and Scrooge blinked two times. It was obvious what he thought about Gyro. Mr. McDuck seemed to finally remember, judging by his face expression.

"What? Wait, are ye talking of what I said to Magica when she had me prisoner in my own dime?"

Okay, at least he remembered it. Point for Scrooge. Gyro didn't even take the time to answer his question. He just… looked away. He felt… betrayed by his boss.

The chicken listened how Scrooge walked closer to him, but he still didn't dare to look at him until the rich duck put a hand on his shoulder.

"Gyro, I told that to protect ye."

Gyro looked at Scrooge with a surprised look, and the old duck just smiled back at him.

"Imagine what Magica could have done to ye if I had answered ye were a good friend."

"Huh?" to say Gyro was speechless was an understatement. Scrooge's smile grew. He probably was having a great time thanks to the look the chicken was giving to him right now. The next Scrooge's words shook the scientist deeply. Those were the last word he expected to hear.

"Gyro, ye're more than an employee, more than a good friend. Ye're family! And right now, I just wanted you to know that I appreciate you."

"Are you serious Mr. McDuck?"

This was a joke, it has to be, some kind of trick to make him work harder in whatever Scrooge was about to ask him to work about. Mr. McDuck seemed now a little offended Gyro could doubt of what he was saying. But… to be honest, Gyro never considered himself so close to Scrooge McDuck and again, what he said to Magica – even if Scrooge assures he said that to protect him – still felt like a thorn on his heart and this was difficult to change with just a few words

"Of course, I am Gyro! Bless my bagpipes! I care about ye!"

Okay, if Gyro had doubts, he had to admit they disappeared eclipsed by the force behind Scrooge's words. His boss seemed firmly convinced of what he was saying. Gyro studied his face for a while and couldn't find any hint of lie on his face. So… it was true! Scrooge considered him, Gyro Gearloose, more than a friend! Gyro was stunned.

"I… I don't know what to say… well, maybe, after what you said, just one thing, 'If they mess with you, they're messing with me.'"

Gyro knew what he just said was stupid, but honestly, this was a sentence he always wanted to say, and without knowing why, he thought this could be a good moment to say it… obviously, he was wrong.

Scrooge looked at him with wide eyes. He seemed… totally confused.

"They? Who're ye referring with they?"

Gyro awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. Why did he just say such stupid think? This wasn't in any way like him! What could he say now? What answer would be convincing to prove Scrooge he was still a smart guy? His number one scientist?

Gyro took a deep break and simply answered with the truth.

"I don't know, whoever that dares to mess with you Mr. McDuck. You were the first person who gave me a chance when I first arrived to Duckburg. You… you… you really cared about me all those years…"

Wow, it was the first time he admitted it loudly. Why didn't he say that before?

Scrooge smiled softly. He seemed… grated to hear those words too.

"Gyro… I'll never stop caring about you."

"Thank you Mr. McDuck."

Gyro couldn't see himself, but he guessed his smile was the biggest he did ever. Was it possible to be more joyful than he was right now? He doubted it was possible.

"Ye're welcome Gyro." His face showed he was proud… proud of him. The rich duck looked behind Gyro. "Now, what about your invention? Have ye finished it?"

"What? Oh yes, of course. I've just finished it."

Totally unexpected for both Scrooge and Gyro, the scientist let out an extremely noisy yawn. Immediately after that, Gyro could feel his cheeks heated up, which meant that he had most likely blushed. Scrooge looked at him with wide eyes. He seemed to be studying his face very cautiously.

"Gyro, ye look really tired. Maybe it'll be good for ye to have some rest."

"That's not necessary Mr. McDuck, I'm perfectly fine."

Gyro hated when whoever it was suggested he was tired and needed rest. That was ridiculous! He could take care of himself perfectly well, thank you! But… on the other hand, he had to admit he had a tendency to not really have selfcare, which turned in more occasions than he'd like to admit that he fell asleep on his desk just to wake up a few hours later with every part of his body hurting him because he didn't sleep in a proper place.

Maybe he should bring a bed to the lab for those occasions…

"Gyro."

"What?" the scientist was so lost on his thoughts that he didn't realize his boss was calling him. Oh snap, he blushed again…

"Lad, I think it's time for you to go to bed."

Scrooge's voice sounded tender and plenty of concern for him. Even that, Gyro was stubborn, not even Scrooge McDuck would defeat him.

"But I'm not-"

Another yawn even more noisily than the one before scaped from his beak. Okay… maybe he was a little more tired than he expected.

"Okay, yes, I'm tired… a little rest wont' hurt me." Admitted trying to sound bored and that he only accepted it because he was forced to. Scrooge smiled proudly at him again.

"Good lad."