This idea came to me and I just had to write it. ;)

Cuphead belongs to Studio MDHR. I own nothing.

A/N: This story will be somewhat of an AU.

Family Is The Key

Chapter 1: Trouble

Elder Kettle smiled as he heard the boys return home from school. "Ah, right on time, boys," he said, getting up from his chair to greet them.

"Elder!" Cuphead said happily, hugging him. "Guess what?"

The kettle chuckled. "What?" He asked.

"Mugman and I got our report cards today!"

Mugman looked just as excited as his brother as the two pulled out their report cards to show their guardian, who accepted them and smiled as he saw the good grades on them, though he did see a C+ on Mugman's report card for Math. "Mugman, are you having some trouble with math?" He asked.

The mug looked embarrassed, but nodded. "I just can't seem to understand it," he said. "And I've been really trying."

"I've even tried to help him, Elder, but maybe I'm not helping Mugs right," Cuphead said.

"I'm sure you've done the best you can and it's good that you've been trying to help your brother," the kettle said with a smile, patting the cup on the head before looking at Mugman. "And I know you're trying your best. We'll think of something to better help you with math."

Seeming relieved that his guardian wasn't mad, the little mug nodded as he wanted to better understand math and bring up his grade. "Now," both boys heard their guardian say. "I think you both have worked hard enough for the past week and I believe there's two weeks vacation from school starting today, yes?"

The boys' eyes lit up and they nodded eagerly. "Then the first thing to do is for you boys to go play and rest your minds," the kettle said with a smile.

Cheering, the two brothers ran into the backyard and pulled out some of their toys, eager to play. They had just gotten out the soccer ball and a couple of kiddie goals set up when thunder rumbled, but they looked up to see there were no clouds. Suddenly, a crash came from inside the house.

"Elder!" Mugman cried out in alarm and Cuphead echoed his cry as they ran into the house, their eyes widening in shock at seeing the state the living room was now in with the furniture upended and some broken picture frames scattered about.

But what scared them the most was the huge dark-furred monster that stood in the living room. His yellow eyes were glaring and he had Elder Kettle by the throat with one hand. He then spotted the boys. "Ah, perfect," he said.

"No, please," Elder Kettle gasped. "Leave them alone."

"Silence, you fool!" The monster said, tightening his grip a little, making the old kettle gasp more.

"No, please!" Cuphead begged, not knowing who this person was but wanting his guardian to be alright. "Let him go!"

"What do you want?" Mugman asked.

The monster chuckled. "Well, since you asked," he said. "I'm looking for a couple of helpers."

"No!" Elder Kettle gasped out.

Cuphead bit his lip. "Helpers for what?" He asked warily.

"Why, collecting contracts for me," the monster said.

"Contracts?" Mugman asked, curious but also wary.

The monster seemed to grin wider. "Why, don't you know?" He asked. "The whole of Inkwell Isles is indebted to me and they aren't paying."

"What?" Cuphead asked. "What do you mean?"

"Please, they don't know," Elder Kettle gasped out.

The monster chuckled. "Oh, so you've been keeping these two in the dark, hmm, old man?" He asked with a sinister grin. "That's too bad, because it could mean your life."

Cuphead and Mugman felt fear fill them. "No! Don't hurt him!" Mugman tearfully pleaded him, falling to his knees and clasping his hands in front of him pleadingly.

"Please," Cuphead pleaded, also tearful and falling to his knees, clasping his hands pleadingly. "Elder Kettle is all we have left. Please let him go."

The monster sneered before looking thoughtful. "What would you do to ensure your guardian lives?" He asked.

"Anything," Cuphead said instantly and Mugman nodded.

"Good," the monster said, pleased with that answer. "Then if you want your guardian to live, you'll collect the contracts that those inhabitants owe me. But if you try anything, then your precious guardian won't be around much longer."

Both boys felt fear fill them before Mugman took a deep breath. "How much time do we have to collect the contracts?" He asked.

"One month, starting today," the monster said. "If you fail, then Elder Kettle is done for." He grinned. "What do you say?"

Cuphead looked up at Elder Kettle, who gave him a look, but the cup sniffled. "I'm sorry, Elder," he said tearfully.

"I'm sorry too," Mugman said sadly before both boys looked at the monster and nodded. "We'll do it."

"Good," the monster said gleefully.

"Please, can we at least hug our guardian one more time?" Cuphead pleaded.

The monster scoffed, but lowered Elder Kettle to the floor, still keeping hold on him as the boys hugged their guardian, who hugged them back. "Boys, I'll be fine," he said to them reassuringly, gasping a little as the hand around his throat tightened. "Be careful. I love you."

"We love you too, Elder," Mugman said and Cuphead nodded.

The monster forcefully pulled Elder Kettle away from the boys. "One month and the clock's ticking," he said with a sneer before vanishing, leaving two distraught boys and a messy house.

"What do we do, Cups?" The little mug asked.

Cuphead looked sad before looking determined. "We save Elder Kettle," he said. "But...to do that, we have to get those contracts."

A piece of paper suddenly appeared and rested on the floor. Mugman unfurled it to see it was a list of names. "I guess these are the people he was talking about," he said to his brother. "It's a long list."

The young cup sighed. "Well, first things first, let's get the living room cleaned up."

It took them a good two hours, but they soon had the living room back in order again before making sandwiches for dinner and eating quietly, worried about their guardian. "Do you think he'll be okay?" Mugman asked.

"Let's hope so, Mugs," Cuphead said, but didn't look like he found comfort in his words before he stood up. "Come on. It's my turn to wash the dishes."

"I'll dry them," the small mug offered.

After the kitchen was cleaned up and the dishes done, the boys locked up the house and went upstairs to their room, laying on on their shared bed, looking at the list again. "Looks like we'll be going to find the Root Pack first thing tomorrow morning," the red cup said.

"Cups, I'm not looking forward to this," the blue mug admitted.

"I know. I'm not either," his brother said. "But...we have no choice if we want to save Elder Kettle."

Both felt sadness fill them at this before they laid down to try and get some sleep, but it was mostly a sleepless night for them, which meant a long wait until morning and an even deeper fear that they might not ever see their guardian again.

Well, looks like the boys have got their work cut out for them. Stay tuned! :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418