I'm Not Yours to Have

by EricaX

It started out as an obsession over Gizmoduck. Now Mark Beaks has set his sights of Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera. Fenton just wants to be left alone. He's already in an relationship with Gyro. Soon, however, Fenton learns just how far Mark is willing to go to make Fenton his.

6. Chapter 6

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Awareness came back to him slowly. The first thing he sensed were voices. He could hear voices. One of them was annoyingly familiar while the other one was more unknown. He could also tell he was lying on a bed.

He tried listening to the voices since that seemed to be the only thing he could focus on.

"This wasn't supposed to happen!"

"Frankly, the fact that you didn't see this coming just proves how ignorant you are."

"He hit me on the head with a frying pan, Gravesy!"

"Which is why I'm starting to like this chap all the more."

Beaks groaned loudly, the sound reminiscent of a child throwing a tantrum. "Ugh, stop talking!"

Fenton groaned, managing to close his eyes tighter as he winced from the headache and confusion that came from being drugged.

"I've given him everything!" Fenton heard Beaks snarl at the stranger.

Fenton forced himself to sit up, grateful for having been resting on soft sheets and mattress. With a soft groan, Fenton raised a hand to his sore head to rub at it as though that was going to make the pain go away any faster.

He could vaguely hear the conversation continue as he gathered his bearings.

"Everything but his freedom. After taking practically everything from him to begin with, I might add."

Fenton was fairly certain that voice belonged to Falcon Graves, who he'd briefly met in the hallway before he was caught.

Beaks scoffed. "Freedom!? Seriously!? What is this!? Some kind of bad soap opera!? Ugh! Who even talks like that anymore!? Who would want freedom when you can live a luxurious life with the great Mark Beaks! I mean, come on! He's getting the better deal!"

"Says a man who's never had his freedom taken away from him" snapped Graves.

Now that Fenton was sitting up on the bed, he wished he was laying down sleeping. Not that Fenton had gotten drunk too many times in his life, given that his mother was a cop, but how he was currently feeling sure felt like the worst hangover he'd ever had. He couldn't help but groan again, this time louder. He placed his head in his hands in an attempt to keep the world from spinning.

He'd lost track of the conversation between Beaks and Graves, his mind going fuzzy as he tried to force himself further awake. He could hear them continue to speak, but he couldn't make out the words.

"HE'S SUPPOSED TO LOVE ME!"

Beaks' scream of rage startled Fenton so bad the poor scientist jumped with a small gasp. A shiver of fear jolted down Fenton's spine. A fear that he had not felt so strongly since he'd first woken up in the apartment. He now had a better idea of the lengths Beaks was willing to go to keep him here. This wasn't just about kidnapping him and faking his death. This was meant to be truly permanent. Fenton knew that already, of course, but now the truth was even more clear.

"We're supposed to be happy! I took away everything that was keeping him from being mine! Like that stupid boyfriend of his! Screwloose doesn't DESERVE him! I DO! I took him away from his job so that he and I would have time to hang out! I took him away from his overbearing, overprotective mother so that he would be happy with me! She had to go and try placing restraining orders on me! HA! ME! Mark Beaks subjected to following a restraining order! Ha! Yeah, no thank you!"

"Has it ever occurred to you that by doing all of this, you are simply driving him further and further away from you?" asked Graves.

Beaks scoffed. "Further away!? He and I have never been closer! I have him just where I want him! I know where he is at all times now!"

Fenton could hear Graves sigh in annoyance. He imagined Graves rubbing between his eyes in irritation. "And therein lies the problem."

"I LOVE him, Graves!

A tickle in his throat forced Fenton to begin coughing dryly. He hoped it wasn't loud enough to alert the other two men. He also hoped it didn't mean he was coming down with anything. Though he wouldn't be surprised if he did get sick; what with the forced captivity, the stress, and the lack of fresh air and sunlight.

"I think he may be awake."

Graves' voice cut through Fenton's thoughts.

It didn't take more than a minute before Fenton could see Mark standing in the doorway, an unreadable expression on his face. He was wearing his usual slacks, dress shirt, and hoodie; for once his phone was no where in sight. Fenton vaguely wondered how big of a bruise he'd left on the back of Mark's head; not that he cared, the parrot deserved it after everything he's done and continues to do.

"You're awake, I see!" It was obvious that Mark was attempting to be chipper, but his expression and tense body language revealed his true mood.

Fenton felt the tickle in his throat return and instead of replying he coughed. It ended after a long moment; the brown feathered duck rubbing at his throat.

"You're not getting sick, are you? I'll have to get you a glass of water. But first, we need to talk."

Fenton and Beaks stared at each other for a long moment. Fenton refused to be the first one to speak. He knew Mark was expecting an apology and he would be damned if he gave one.

"I took away all the frying pans in the kitchen" began Mark. He sighed dramatically, taking a hand and gently rubbing the spot where Fenton had hit him. "I gotta say, Fenny, I'm not happy with your behavior!"

Finally, the scientist broke his own silent treatment. "I'm not sorry for what I did." He curled up into a tighter ball on the mattress, his eyes never leaving Beaks, as he held his knees closer to his chest.

"Well, you SHOULD feel sorry! I have a terrible headache thanks to you!" grumbled Beaks. He stayed at the threshold of the room, much to Fenton's relief.

"Forgive me for attacking someone who's been keeping me locked up like some animal! I tend to get defensive when I feel threatened!" retorted Fenton angrily.

Beaks' face was unreadable as he stepped further into the room.

Fenton inched himself away as far as he could before ran into the pillows and headboard.

"You shouldn't feel threatened though, Gizzy! It's just me! Mark! Mark Beaks! I don't want to hurt you! I just want us to be happy together! Why can't you see that I just want you to love me back and feel the same way I do about you!" pleaded Mark, stepping up to the end of the bed.

Fenton closed his eyes and sighed. "I can't just snap my fingers and be in love with you, Beaks! It doesn't work like that!"

"But you could at least TRY!" argued Beaks, his previous anger and annoyance returning. "You're not even TRYING to like it here! You're not even TRYING to fall in love with me!"

With a frustrated cry, Fenton let go of his knees and sat properly on the edge of the bed. He grabbed one of the large decorative pillows sitting at the head board and threw it at Beaks. The gray and white pillow hit Beaks in the shoulder, who shouted out in surprise.

"I AM IN LOVE WITH GRYO GEARLOOSE!" Fenton screamed. Tears pooled underneath Fenton's eyes as the past week's stress and anxieties bubbled over inside him. "I HATE YOU, BEAKS! I REALLY DO HATE YOU!" Tears were now streaming down his cheeks and beak. "No matter what you do or say I will NEVER love you! Don't you get it!? You've taken me away from the man I love! You've taken me away from my family, my friends, my job, MY LIFE! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THAT!"

Fenton grabbed the other decorative pillow and threw that one as well before he curled up in a ball and sobbed.

Mark, who had dodged the second pillow, was leaning against the bed with his arms keeping him propped up; his eyes wide as he stared at the scientist. He swallowed thickly and licked his lips. "Umm..." For once the great Mark Beaks didn't have any words. He glanced down at his phone and stared at the black screen as though it would magically give him answers.

Mark began to feel his heart rate quicken and his breathing become more and more erratic. This wasn't how things were supposed to go at all. His plan had been flawless. How could things have gotten so bad? He'd done everything he could to win Fenton over; everything he could imagine would give the scientist an amazing, pampered life.

A memory came to his mind; an image of his younger self trying desperately to gain the attention he craved. He could hear his younger self's voice as clear as day. 'Why won't you pay any attention to me!? Why are all those stupid parties more important than ME!? You're never home! I never see you! What don't I have!? Why won't you love me!? Why am I not good enough to be your son! STOP IGNORING ME, MOM!'

The memory sent a shiver down Mark's spine.

He was never good enough.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Mark turned his wild gaze up at Fenton's shaking and vulnerable body. After several long moments of silence, Mark finally uttered a question. "What does Screwloose have that I don't?"

Wiping away at his tears, Fenton glanced Mark's way as he sniffled loudly. "W-What?"

His intense glare never wavering, Mark asked again, "What does Screwloose have that I don't?"

Still sniffling and breathing shakily from all his crying, Fenton frowned as his eyebrows furrowed together in confusion and annoyance. "It's n-not about what he has! I-It's about who he is!"

This response only seemed to anger Mark further as he closed his eyes and growled under his breath. "So once again, it's me."

Wishing that he had a tissue from all the snotty noises his breathing was now making, Fenton swallowed thickly before inquiring, "What do you mean by that?"

Mark didn't answer, much to Fenton's surprise. He raised an eyebrow, unnerved by Mark's sudden behavior. Mark Beaks was a lot of things, but silent and brooding was not one of them. It was clear that he'd struck a nerve with the rich parrot and Fenton wasn't entirely sure he was prepared to deal with that.

Panic slowly filled his chest once more as Mark continued to just stand there and glare at him. Fenton was once again reminded that he was trapped. Literally trapped. Mark was standing in front of the door to the bedroom so this time he couldn't even run out of the room if he so wanted to. "You promised me you wouldn't hurt me." he quietly reminded Mark. He tried not to panic as Mark stepped closer.

Mark didn't reply at first, but when he did, Fenton cringed with worry.

"I know I did, I just didn't think you'd hurt ME in the meantime!" he grumbled darkly.

Pushing himself back until his back was up against the headboard, Fenton stuttered out, "Y-You hurt me first." His crying had left an anxious tremor in his voice that he wished would go away. "T-Technically! By dragging me back in here with y-your goon! Your henchman!"

Mark stilled, his eyes wide and staring intently at Fenton. "I hurt you first!?" His voice rose a couple octaves in his incredulity. "I hurt you first!?" He repeated even louder.

Fenton closed his eyes, willing his erratically beating heart to slow down.

"How about all the times you REJECTED me! Those hurt too, ya know!" shouted Mark angrily. "If you really want to point fingers, Gizzy, you've been breaking my heart and ruining things for me since day one!" Mark pushed away from the bed and began pacing back and forth in front of the bedroom door. "You really want to talk accountability with me here, Fenny!? How about how you refused to keep working for me as Gizmoduck!"

Fenton barked out an incredulous laugh. "Ha! Seriously!? You're bringing THAT up!? You were CONTROLLING ME in that suit, Beaks! I had no free will inside of it because of you! You didn't want to use Gizmoduck to save people or be a hero, you just wanted it for the popularity it gave you!"

Mark stopped in his pacing, shrugging his shoulders. "Uh, yeah! Kinda the point! I'm Mark Beaks! Everyone should be paying attention to me! But no! Not YOU! Not Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera! You have given me the cold shoulder since-since like, FOREVER!"

"I didn't mean to come off that way, Beaks, really-You're just-" began Fenton, yet he was cut off.

"I just WHAT!?" screeched Mark, ending his pacing and stomping his way over to Fenton, all but pinning the scientist to the headboard.

In his haste this whole while, Fenton had made a mess of the otherwise properly made bed and now the comforter and sheets were beginning to ball up at Fenton's webbed feet. Fenton's head lightly thumped against the headboard as he tried to create as much space between him and the parrot as possible.

Both of them were breathing heavily from all the arguing and emotional adrenaline.

Licking his lips and trying to buy as much time as he could before he was expected to answer, Fenton threw caution to the wind and without having a proper plan, by any means, he reacted on pure instinct. "You're just not my type!"

Mark blinked at him, his scowl softening into a pained grimace.

The quick punch in the face and the hard kick in the gut came completely out of no where.

Mark gasped out in pain as the wind was nearly knocked out of him, one hand going to his stomach and the other going to the side of his face. Fenton then shoved the CEO away and slid off the bed, his heart in his throat. Just as Fenton thought he was going to make it out the bedroom door, a hand wrapped around his right ankle, causing him to trip. Fenton fell hard on the gray carpeted floor, his right hand stinging in pain as it had slid harshly down the wooden door frame.

"Ow, ow, ow! Okay, NOT cool!" gasped out Mark. He'd managed to spin around, falling off the bed and to the floor in the process, and just barely managed to wriggle over enough to grab Fenton's ankle.

"Now who's hurting who, Gizzy!?" accused Mark bitterly. "I hate physical violence! Detest it, but you've forced my hand!" He began trying to pull Fenton towards him. "OWWW! Ugh, my ribs and face hurt so much thanks to you! But I won't let you go! You're mine!"

Fenton began kicking his feet as hard as he could in hopes to kick Mark off of him. He grabbed hold on the door frame to anchor himself where he lay. "LET GO OF ME!"

"NO!"

The two of them struggled, Fenton trying to stand up with the help of the doorway while Mark fought to keep hold and gain and stronger grip on Fenton.

Neither of them were very physically strong to begin with, though thanks to his time underneath the Gizmoduck suit, Fenton had gained a bit more muscle mass. One wouldn't think so, but maneuvering around inside the suit, especially in the arms, could be very physically taxing and exhausting and over time, Fenton had grown a resilience to it as his arms grew stronger. Sadly, however, his new strength still wasn't enough in this situation.

"GRAVES!"

Fenton groaned as Mark called out to the falcon, hating that his left arm was pinned down to the ground and practically useless. He tried using that arm so he could push himself up, however the exertion took away the focus of kicking him legs as hard as he could and Mark was able to lunge himself closer and grasp onto both of Fenton's legs. It didn't help that he needed his right arm to hold onto the door frame.

"GRAVES! GET IN HERE, NOW! AND BRING ME THAT PHIAL OF SERUM!" shouted Mark breathlessly.

A cold dread consumed Fenton at the word 'serum' as he continued to struggle. Fenton refused to believe it. He couldn't possibly mean-!?

Fenton could not only hear but feel Falcon's footsteps as he approached. "You called?" Graves raised an eyebrow at the pair of them, seemingly unbothered by their current predicament.

Fenton grunted loudly as he finally managed to push his upper body upwards a bit, only to cry out when, at the same time, Mark managed to wrap an arm around his waist; pinning Fenton's legs completely in the process.

Raising his right arm, since his left one was holding Fenton, Mark reached up towards Graves. "Quick! Give me the phial! The serum is the only thing that will help me stop him!"

"NO! Don't give it to him!" wheezed Fenton as he continued to struggle.

"You know, I could simply assist you in capturing him" suggested Graves.

Mark sneered. "NO! He's MINE! I don't want you touching him any more than you already have!" He grunted and reached further to snatch the phial out of Graves' hand. He stared at the phial, uncorking it with his thumb, and downed the tiny amount that was inside it. It couldn't have been much more than two tablespoons. "BLUGH! Ugh, that stuff tastes HORRIBLE!" gagged Mark as he stuck out his tongue.

As bad tasting as the serum might have been, Mark instantly began to feel its effects. His arms, which previously were feeling sore and weakened from all the strength he'd been using up to keep Fenton in place, now felt stronger and filled with a power he didn't have a moment ago. Though there were no visible changes in his body, Mark felt stronger and holding Fenton down and in place now felt like no struggle at all.

With a victorious cry, Mark was able to sit up a bit, getting one of his knees underneath himself, and pulled Fenton up from the floor enough that he could spin him around until the scientist was now laying on his back. Fenton began to struggle and attempt to sit up, but Mark wasn't having it. With his new found strength, Mark was able to pin Fenton down to the floor, pinning Fenton's arms up over his head and keeping them there.

Now entirely at Mark's mercy, Fenton gasped, unable to do anything else besides stare up at his captor in fear and panic.

"Now this is more like it!" crowed Mark happily. He settled himself over top of Fenton so that his knees were on either side of Fenton's waist. He towered over Fenton, being mindful not to put all his weight on Fenton. He stared down at Fenton as though he was the most breathtaking image in the world. "Heh! Your Strength Building Serum works wonders, Gizzy! Not that I'm very surprised! You invented it, after all!" He leaned down and nuzzled his beak along the side of Fenton's face.

"Should have known you were behind the missing phials of my Strength Serums, Beaks!" grumbled Fenton as he tried to wriggle his arms free. It was futile; he knew. Mark drank a small bit of the serum, which meant for at least the next twelve hours or so Mark was going to be a great deal stronger than Fenton. He remembered the phials going missing the night of the Science Gala.

"Uh, yeah! Duh! Of course it was me! You wouldn't let me try out the serum at the Gala, so I snatched some for myself to try out on a rainy day!" He leaned closer until he and Fenton were sharing each other's breaths. "And guess what? Heh, you wouldn't know this cause you've been cooped up inside-But it's raining out today!"

Fenton rolled his eyes. "And who's fault is that!?"

"Hmmm? You're saying it's MY fault you've been cooped up and trapped inside our apartment this whole time? Nuh uh! WRONG, mi amigo! It's YOUR fault! I never would have taken things this far had you just cooperated and returned my feelings for you from the start!"

Fenton kicked out one on his legs as hard as he could in frustration. "For the last time, I don't like you! I don't have feelings for you nor am I ever going to!"

Mark titled his head to the side, his eyes going half closed. Fenton gulped at the sight, not liking where this was going. "You should never say never, Gizzy..." He whispered. "Did you know? I don't like being touched or touching people in general?"

Fenton looked away, trying once more to escape from Mark's hold. "Really? Could have fooled me!"

"It's true! I have Haphephobia! Ugh, the idea of touching people? Gross!" He paused, adjusting his hold on Fenton. "But never with you. I've never been afraid to touch you, Gizzy. For the first time in my life I actually wanted to hold someone's hand! I wanted to HUG you! I do NOT do hugs! But the idea of someone as amazing as YOU hugging me! Yes! Yes, yes, YES!"

"Lucky me" spat Fenton sarcastically.

"Everything's going to be okay, Fenton! Today is an amazing day! Yes, we started it out with fighting, but now that I have you here, so close to me...vulnerable..." With every word he inched closer; their beaks nearly touching. "Today, May 18th, is the day you're going to start falling for me!"

Fenton's eyes grew wide with shock. His breath caught in his throat as he gasped out, "T-Today is M-May 18th!?"

Mark, unaware of Fenton's imminent meltdown, hummed quietly in agreement as his beak began gently ruffling the feathers on Fenton's neck. "Mmhmm...That's right." He moved his head and met Fenton's lips, drawing him in closer for a soft and quick kiss. "Today is..."

Fenton's heart wrenched sob broke him off. "Our anniversary!" He hadn't even noticed the unwanted kiss Mark had given him. His mind was too shattered over the revelation.

Mark flinched back, now realizing Fenton was once again openly crying. He released Fenton's wrists and climbed off Fenton; completely baffled on what to do.

Fenton just laid there on the floor and sobbed, bringing his arms down to cover his face.

Mark scratched the back of his head. He looked up and met Graves' gaze. The ever vigilante and militant falcon didn't say anything, just stared at Mark accusingly. Unable to keep meeting his associate's gaze, Mark looked away. "A-Anniversary? W-What a-anniversary?"

Graves shook his head and walked away.

Mark shot him a dirty look before turning his attention back to his upset sweetheart.

"G-Gyro and I's one y-year-a-anniversary!" came the choked reply. His sobs were slowly started to grow quieter as the initial shock faded away. He wiped angrily at his lips where Mark had just kissed him, as though he was just now processing what Mark had done. "A y-year ago, we finally confessed our feelings! G-Gyro had been so out of his depth... He didn't know what to do o-or say! B-But he surprised me and g-got me a bouquet of red roses!" Fenton finally sat back up, rubbing at his nose as he sniffled. He leaned up against the same door frame he had been clinging onto during their struggle.

"Roses..." mumbled Mark, idling fiddling with the frays of the carpet.

"He k-kissed me under the stars that first night we agreed we liked each other" continued Fenton, a distant look in his eyes. A very faint smile fell onto his lips as he began muttering in Spanish. He closed his eyes, seemingly unaware that he had switched languages.

Mark frowned, disliking the idea that he was speaking about Gyro seconds after he had kissed him. He also hated that Fenton wasn't speaking English anymore.

"Speak English, please!" snapped Mark.

Fenton's eyes opened and glared at him. "No. I'll speak about Gyro in whatever language I want! You don't deserve to know the rest of the story anyways!" He stood up on wobbly legs, his hands shaking from everything that had happened. "Now, go away! Since I can't spend my anniversary with Gyro then I wish to spend it alone!"

Mark stood up as well. The serum was still in his system, meaning he was still feeling the effects of it and feeling stronger than ever. He grabbed Fenton's wrist as the duck tried to walk away. "You hit me with a frying pan! I'm not just gonna let that go!"

"And you stole and used my own invention against me!" Fenton sneered back. His tears were gone and now that he knew what day it was, he just felt angry and guilty for not being with Gyro. Not that it was his fault, by any means. The fault belonged entirely to the parrot before him. "You stole that months ago, Beaks! As I said at the Gala, it hasn't even been fully tested! The fact that you even drank it is terrifying! It's a prototype! I have no idea the affects that's going to have on you!"

"Awww, is this your way of showing me you care?" cooed Mark.

Fenton wasn't sure if he was genuinely asking or trying to be petty and sarcastic. Probably the former. "That's my polite way of saying you're a moron!" He ripped his wrist out of Mark's grip. Fenton tried to walk away again, but Mark stepped in front of him. While Mark didn't look any different on the outside, Fenton knew he was twice as strong as he normally was, so the idea of getting on Mark's bad side wasn't in his plans. However, Mark was making it quite difficult not to.

"Look! LOOK!" insisted Mark. He gently cupped Fenton's cheeks. "I know I've hurt you but you've hurt me too!" He waited to see if Fenton would reply but the shorter scientist only continued to glare at him. "Please, Fenton! I've never felt this way about anyone before! You're so amazingly handsome and smart! Just being in your presence makes my day brighter! You mean so much to me, even if I don't always know how to show it!"

Fenton's shoulders sagged and his glare lessened. He looked away. "You know, Gyro said the same thing to me."

"Hmm?"

"That he didn't know how to show his love for me."

Mark grabbed hold of Fenton's hand and held it tight but tenderly. "Then you understand!"

"Yeah, I get it. This is just your own sick twisted way of showing me you love me."

Mark nodded.

"So, imagine Beaks, for just a moment." Fenton still refused to make eye contact with him.

Mark continued to listen with interest.

"Imagine loving me and I returned your affection-"

"I do! I do everyday, Gizzy!" gushed Mark excitedly.

Fenton ignored him. "Then imagine something happening to me. Imagine someone faking my death and making you think that I had died. Leading you to believe that you would never see me, hear from me, or be in my presence ever again. Imagine that-"

Mark frowned, his grip on Fenton's hand loosening enough for Fenton to free his hand.

"-and you'll only have a tiny iota of an idea of what you're currently putting the love of my life through. The pain he must be in right now." Fenton stepped around Mark and finally managed to get out of the bedroom. "You want to talk about being hurt? Then you think about what it must be like for me, knowing I'm alive, and not being able to relieve Gyro's pain by letting him know I'm still alive!"

Mark said nothing.

"Now leave me alone!"

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Donald hummed to himself as he went about his morning routine. Now that the triplets were staying in the mansion, he didn't have to be the one to cook them breakfast anymore, but that didn't mean there still wasn't dishes that needed washed, floorboards that needed scrubbed, and a boat engine that still needed fixing.

Thankfully he had fixed most of the damage that had been caused by Storkules' last visit. Ugh, the plumbing had been a nightmare to fix.

Donald had just finished wiping down the kitchen table when he decided to go into the mansion for breakfast. Some mornings he didn't join the rest of his family for the morning meal, choosing to make his own breakfast, but he didn't quite feel like dirtying up any more dishes.

Donald walked off the houseboat and began walking into the mansion when the sound of a glass bottle falling and hitting cement caught his attention.

"Wah?" he exclaimed. Donald stopped mid step and turned to his left.

There, passed out on one of the pool chaise lounges, slept Gyro.

Gyro was laying on his side, facing away from Donald. Frowning, the sailor walked over to check on him. "Hey!" he called over. Gyro didn't respond.

Reaching the other side of the lounge, Donald's suspicious glare slowly turned to a sympathetic frown. Gyro's glasses were askew, barely hanging onto his beak and threatening to fall to the concrete just like the bottle of whisky that was still rolling along beside the pool. The bottle had obvious fallen from Gyro's limp hand that was hanging off the side, his other arm pinned underneath him due to the way he was laying. A tiny bit of drool was also pooling underneath the chicken's slightly open mouth.

Donald sighed. He gently touched Gyro's shoulder and shook him. "Hey! Hey, wake up! Dr. Gearloose? Wake up!"

Donald knew Gyro Gearloose. Better than his nephews probably realized. The two of them had once gotten along fairly well, both sharing a connection that could only be born from two souls who'd had there fair share of difficulties in life. One of them was an extrovert who longed to be in the spotlight, singing and dancing with his fellow band mates, while the other was an introvert who longed for a world that would understand him and his inventions and be taken seriously. Both of them were outcasts. Both of them considered the other a friend.

Until the Spear of Selene happened.

Donald snapped out of his thoughts and continued trying to wake Gyro.

After several more attempts at bring woken up, Gyro finally awoke with a cry. The scientist jumped up in alarm, causing Donald to shout out in fright from the sudden noise and motion. Donald fell backwards and landed on another chaise lounge.

"What!? Where!? Fenton!? Where are you-!?" Gyro was now standing, his glasses still hanging onto his beak. He glanced around at his blurry surroundings before remembering to put his glasses on. He stumbled a bit in his hungover state and fell back down into a sitting position on the chaise lounge he'd been passed out on. His eyes landed on Donald, who was still fighting to get himself back up from where he fell. "Oh. It's you."

"What's the big idea!?" squawked Donald before he was finally able to sit up properly. He glared at Gyro. "What are you doing here!?"

"God, I wish that voice modulator still worked on you. You're hard to understand when I'm NOT hungover, let alone when I am!" muttered Gyro darkly.

Donald stood and got up in Gyro's face. "I'll ask again, WHAT are you doing here!?"

Gyro stepped back, swaying dangerously but managing to keep his balance. He stood as straight as he could, given the circumstances, and crossed his arms indignantly. "Excuse me! Can't a guy choose to get hammered and smashed in their boss' backyard!?" He paused, his eyes going wide as his own words sunk in. He repeated his own words, only this time in horror. "Oh, my God. I got smashed and hammered in my boss' back yard!"

"Yeah, that much is obvious, ya great palooka! Now this is the part you tell me why! Why are you here!?"

Gyro wasn't able to keep up his usual cold and collected mask when his head was pounding as hard as it was. His shoulders sagged in defeat. "I was simply...drowning myself in alcohol."

Donald nodded, his arms crossed as he tapped his foot. "Right. Still not telling me why."

"Why does anyone get drunk? To hide away from their sorrows. To avoid reality. To hope that they can forget that the plan to find your lost paramour is going at a much slower pace than you could have ever hoped for!"

"What?" Donald found himself asking.

"You really don't know?"

"Know what?!"

Gyro sighed in exasperation as he sat down. "Have you ever been in love, Donald?" he then added quickly, "And please, just a yes or no answer. I actually don't CARE if you have been or not, I'm just trying to make a point!"

Donald glared at him for a moment before his face turned red. He looked away."Yeah, I've been in love. Couple of times, actually."

Gyro nodded. "And, not to be crass, but the fact that you're currently single proves that your heart has been broken and you've, at some point, missed that special someone a great deal."

Not caring for the way Gyro was wording it, Donald nodded. "Yeah, of course. What are you getting at?" As soon as the words left his mouth, Donald's face went slack with guilt. "Oooh! Fenton." How could he have possibly forgotten about Fenton? It had only been roughly a week since- Oh, now Donald just wanted to go hide under a rock.

Gyro nodded, biting his lower lip. "Yes. Fenton."

"Aww, shucks buddy! I-I'm sorry! I forgot!" apologized Donald, reaching up and taking off his hat to hold it to his chest. "I should have known better!"

"Stop your babbling" snapped Gyro, though there was no bite to it. He placed his elbows on his knees and cradled his head with his hands. "I know you didn't mean it. I just-It's taking so much longer for Officer Cabrera and I to figure out what happened to Fenton." He could hear Donald mumble in confusion but he didn't care to elaborate. "We thought we had a couple leads but every time we try to follow them, there is something getting in our way!"

Donald sat down on the other chaise lounge and listened to the scientist talk. It was the least he could do after how he'd just treated him.

"Another reason why I was drinking so heavily is because...Today is our one year anniversary."

Donald could only stare on in sympathy. "Awwww!" He had no idea what to say.

"I guess a part of me was hoping that if I got drunk enough, I would be able to forget what day it was. Because, Donald, it hurts so much! It hurts so much because he and I had so many plans for today!" Gyro reached down and grabbed another empty bottle from under the lounge that Donald hadn't even seen. He angrily threw it into the pool. "I was supposed to be HAPPY! Today was supposed to be something SPECIAL! It's not like I can go back to my apartment because it's not just MY apartment it's OUR apartment and the idea of being there without him makes me sick to my stomach! That's why I crashed here because I have nowhere else to go!" He sniffled and fought back a sob. He may be hungover, but that didn't mean he was willing to show such weakness; not even to someone he once called a close friend.

The sound of metal scraping against cement could be heard as Donald scooted his chaise lounge over closer to Gyro's. He gently patted the lanky scientist on the back. "Oh, it's going to be okay, Gyro. Maybe it doesn't feel like that now, but it will be."

Gyro didn't reply, his hid his face, his shoulders shaking.

"It's okay to cry. I won't tell anyone the great genius, Gyro Gearloose, is capable of crying. Your secret is safe with me!" teased Donald in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Shut up" scowled Gyro. He didn't wish to think about how much that had sounded like something Fenton would say.

Donald chuckled, patting Gyro on the back once more. "Look, you wanna know something I do whenever I miss my family?"

Gyro didn't move as Donald reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

"I like to look at photos of them that I've taken on my phone! It makes me think of all the good times! I know that can sound sad and depressing, but it does help! Makes it seems like, for just one moment, the kids are there with me, ya know?" He pulled up his photos and began swiping through the ones he had saved on there. He moved the move down so Gyro could see them, "See? I love this one of Dewey learning how to walk! Gladstone took that photo of us." He frowned at the memory. "Right before he dropped my phone after finding a twenty dollar bill."

Gyro glanced over listlessly to see the photo the sailor was trying to show him. Anything to distract him from bawling his eyes out, he supposed.

As Donald began to ramble about every photo of the triplets he had on his phone, a thought came to Gyro's mind. He instantly stood up, raising a finger in the air for emphasis. "THAT'S IT!"

Donald shouted in alarm when Gyro sprung up from his seat so quickly. "Hey! What gives!?"

Gyro glanced down at Donald. "Thank you for the assistance, Donald! You have been MOST helpful!"

Donald watched as Gyro bent down and picked up his forgotten hat that was still on the lounge and asked, "What did I do!?"

Gyro began walking away, "Gave me an idea on how to prove Fenton is still alive!"

Donald could only stare in wonder.

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Gloria Cabrera was having a stressful morning. The fact that she was even at work proved how stressful things were. Today was meant to be her day off and she had been hoping to spend the day finding more leads into what happened to Fenton in the fire. However, thanks to numerous reasons, she was stuck here at work under a pile of paperwork.

The Duckburg Police Department was currently a flurry of movement and activity as she walked out of the bathroom to settle back into the paperwork waiting for her at her desk. However, the moment she stepped out, she could tell that things were even more chaotic than before. She walked back to her desk, noticing the unnerved and frantic glances from her coworkers.

She could hear everyone muttering to each other as she walked by.

Swearing in Spanish, she snapped at one of the data analysts. "What is everyone muttering about!? Why is no one working at their desks! We have work to do, crimes to solve!"

The younger mouse hadn't been working there for long and she was still getting used to the intimidating atmosphere that came along with working at a police department. "U-Uh, you have a visitor at your desk, ma'am."

Gloria glanced up and looked over to her desk which could be seen through the glass windows that encircled her office. She muttered a thank you before she began muttering curses and threats under her breath; all aimed at the rooster who had made himself at home in her office.

She opened her office door and immediately slammed it. "Gearloose! What on Earth do you think you're doing here!?"

Gyro glanced up her from where he was sitting, his feet propped up on Gloria's desk as though he owned the place. He had a smug expression of her face. "Hello to you too, Officer Cabrera!" he greeted cheerfully. Or rather, as cheerfully as Gyro could sound.

"Get your feet off my desk!" scolded Gloria as she walked around her desk and sat at her chair. "What nerve you must have to come in like this! Do you have any idea how many case files we have against you and your previous inventions!?"

Gyro sat up properly, his feet falling to the floor. "Nothing that can be worse than what they have on me in Tokyolk" he mumbled.

This only caused Gloria to scowl at him further. "What!?"

Gyro ignored her question. "Forgive my sudden visit, however, I just thought you'd like to know how I've come to be in possession of the proof we need to prove Fenton is in fact alive!"

Gloria's anger instantly vanished at his words. "How!?" She leaned over her desk slightly in anticipation.

Gyro raised a finger and closed his eyes. "Now, I know you told me not to do anymore hacking-"

Gloria's scowl was back on her face.

"But before you chastise me I'll tell you that it is what allowed me to find the evidence we need! Yesterday I ran into Mark Beaks and he and I had a few words. It was some of those words that made me quite curious! He kept making it sound as though Fenton was still alive-referring to him in present tense instead of past tense. Then a mutual friend of mine gave me the idea to check his phone! Mark Beaks can't help himself from taking selfies of practically everyone and everything he comes across and he definitely can't help himself to post every little thing online!"

"What are you trying to say, Gearloose!? If what you say is true and he's behind what happened to Fenton, then he would have exposed himself and posted a photo of him and Fenton by now!" argued Gloria.

Gyro shook his head. "Not if he didn't want to get caught!"

Gloria leaned back in her chair and waited for more.

"So, I managed to find the right information and I was able to hack into Beaks' phone. And my search did not disappoint!" He reached over and showed Gloria an image on his phone. "Thanks to my genius and know-how, I was able to see everything on Beaks' phone, including any photos he's recently taken! According to his phone, he took that image yesterday afternoon!"

Gloria's eyes were glued to the picture on Gyro's phone. It was a photo of Fenton sleeping. Her eyes filled with tears. "Oh, polito!" She stared at it for a moment more before her gaze met Gyro's. "Are you sure!? Are you sure this was taken yesterday!?"

Gyro nodded. "Positive. The program I used to hack into his phone was able to transfer all the info and data from the photos. It's date stamped at yesterday at 2:58 PM. It's not just some photo he found or received from someone else either! It was taken on HIS phone yesterday!"

"He's alive!" gasped Gloria, placing a hand over her beak.

Gyro nodded, a large grin on his face. "He's alive."

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4 Months Earlier

"Okay, so I think that's just about everything" Fenton was speaking to himself. He double check the box of phials for the third time in the last five minutes. "Yep, they're all still in there!" He turned to Manny, who was helping move some old supplies into the supply closet. "Manny, have you seen my label maker?"

Manny stopped walking, his stone head of Scrooge McDuck staring at him, as he began tapping one of his hooves on the floor. "It's right beside you and you already labeled all your projects."

Fenton frowned and turned back to the desk he was working at. He closed the lid to the box of phials and saw that Manny was correct; the box was already labeled. "Oh. Uh, thank you, Manny!"

Manny continued walking away.

"What are you mumbling about over here?" came Gyro's dry voice.

Fenton smiled at the sound of it. He spun around to find Gyro standing before him. "Heh, ya know, just-trying to make sure I have everything set and ready to go for the Science Gala!"

From where he was at on the other side of the large lab, Manny could be heard clopping his foot down in Morse code again. "He's been a nervous wreck ever since you left. He keeps checking everything over again and again."

Fenton turned and blew a raspberry at the Man-Horse. "Tattle-tale!"

Gyro simply watched his boyfriend with a raised eyebrow and an amused grin. "I leave the lab for no more than an hour and you're fussing up a storm?"

Fenton shook his head. "No! I just-" He looked Gyro in the eye and sighed, his shoulders sagging. He lowered his head and leaned forward until his head was resting against Gyro's chest. "Ugh, what's the use? I can't lie to you. I'm nervous, okay!?" He grabbed Gyro's wrists and lifted them up onto his shoulders when Gyro didn't do anything. "This is the part where you wrap your arms around me, hold me close, and whisper sweet nothings and reassurances into my ear."

Gyro shook his head and chuckled. "I shouldn't have to mutter sweet reassurances into your ear!"

His gaze focused on their feet due to his position, Fenton replied, "Okay, you're really bad at this, mi amor. Listen-Do you hear that? Yeah, that's the sound of my confidence being ripped in two!"

Gyro rolled his eyes and pulled Fenton gently back by the shoulders so that Fenton would look at him. "No, dummy. I mean, I shouldn't have to say those things to you because you should already know it!"

Fenton blushed as a smile began to form on his beak.

"Do you seriously think I would waste my time with an intern who wasn't fully qualified and brilliant enough to keep up with me? Do you really think I would hire you full time to work along side MY genius if you didn't deserve it!?" Gyro pointed out.

Fenton tried to hold back the smile that kept growing bigger. "Okay, you're better at this than I thought..." he laughed.

Gyro placed a kiss on the top of Fenton's forehead. "You're going to do just fine, darling. Besides, I will be there with you the entire time at the Gala. You have your projects to share and I have mine, but then we have the few that we are presenting together! It's going to be just fine!" He let Fenton go and walked over to the table Fenton had been working on.

Fenton couldn't help it, he was smiling like a teenage boy admiring his first crush. "Yeah, says the guy who's been to hundreds of these Galas and presented thousands of ideas to these people."

Lifting up one of the phials Fenton had been fussing over earlier, he peered at its contents before setting it back inside. "First off-Ouch. These Gala is yearly, which means if I've attended hundreds of them, you're insinuating I'm well over one hundred years old. I don't appreciate that." His tone was light and teasing and Fenton couldn't help but laugh. "Secondly, I have not presented thousands of my ideas! Just how old do you think I am!?"

Fenton opened his mouth to reply, but Gyro cut him off with a quick, "Don't answer that!"

Fenton laughed loudly, unable to hold his laughter in anymore.

Fenton's laugh was always loud. It went along perfectly with his bubbly, positive personality. It was breathy and hearty at the same time. Not to mention very infectious. Even for someone like Gyro Gearloose, who found himself also chuckling.

After a moment, Fenton remembered the reason Gyro was just now returning back to the lab. He managed to control his laughter and ask, "Say, where did you end up going, anyway? You wouldn't tell me earlier."

Gyro glanced up from Fenton's ridiculously organized notes and gave him an owlish look. "Hmm?"

"Where did you go?"

Gyro looked away. "Oh, right. My trip into town." He raised a finger and began walking back over towards the elevator doors. As he did, he began explaining, his voice loud enough to be overheard despite the distance now between them. "So, if you recall, last month when Mr. McDuck's color coded nephews and honorary niece were visiting the apartment-" he trailed off for a moment, grabbing a garment bag off a chair that Fenton hadn't noticed until just now. "They made a comment about what you would be wearing to the event."

Fenton nodded slowly. "Yeah, I remember. You got angry and snapped at them."

"Because-" Gyro went on to say. "They wanted to dress you up in some hideous outfit, no doubt!"

Fenton rolled his eyes in amusement and crossed his arms.

Gyro unzipped the bag and and unhooked the hanger clipped to the inside before revealing a stunning dark gray suit with purple detailing. He raised it up high so Fenton could see the full view of it.

Fenton gasped at the sight. "Holy Newton! Gyro! That's beautiful!" He stepped forward and reached out timidly, as though he were afraid to touch it.

Gyro smiled proudly. "Why, thank you!"

Fenton frowned. "But it's my size."

"Of course it is, dummy."

Fenton just stared up at him.

Gyro rolled his eyes and guffawed quietly. "It's what you'll be wearing to the Science Gala!" Fenton's eyes widened further as he pressed on. "It's my gift to you for our eight month anniversary!"

Fenton's eyes teared up as his hands finally touched the rich and soft fabric. "Awww, mi gallo!" he gushed. "I thought we were just going out to dinner tonight! I had no idea you were going to get me a gift too! You told me not to get you anything and you go and do this!"

"That's because I told you not to!" Gyro reminded him. He handed over the suit to Fenton, who couldn't seem to take his eyes off it. "Look, I know you've been nervous about the Gala. This is your first one as an official scientist, meaning it's your first one where you'll be presenting your own ideas and not just assisting me. So, I wanted you to look special and feel good about yourself while you're up here with me."

Fenton whimpered happily before pulling Gyro in for a large, one-armed hug since he was trying not to wrinkle his new suit. "You're too sweet!"

Gyro held him close, running a hand through Fenton's head feathers. "Many would disagree, but...at the end of the day, it's really only your opinion I care about in such matters."

Fenton let him go, carefully setting the suit back up in the garment bag in had come in and hanging it up on the coat rack near the elevator. "I love it. Thank you!" Gyro nodded appreciatively. "What are you going to wear?"

"Ahh, good question!" smiled Gyro. He proceeded to procure another garment bag from the same place he'd been keeping Fenton's. "You and I, my dear, shall be matching!"

Fenton's eyes lit up! "Nooo! The Gyro Gearloose, slipping into romantic cliches!?" Fenton barked with laughter. "Who are you and what have you done with my Gyro!?" he teased.

Gyro shrugged. "Temporary lapse of judgement, I can assure you."

Fenton stepped closer and pulled Gyro down for a kiss, which the older man met halfway. They broke apart. "If this is what you do for our eight month anniversary, I can't wait to see what you do for our one year anniversary!" he giggled.

Gyro kissed him again. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

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