Ch 3: Soul Bound part 2

Location: St. Canard University

"Thank you for your business, Dean Tightbill," Bud Flud extended his arm to give his customer a firm handshake.

"Yes, yes. We can't have our students or faculty drinking that sludge the other companies are selling. Though it seems as if we will have to cut our expenses, and I know just who to fire to do it." The dean walked off after showing the salesman to the door.

{As long as I make a profit, who cares if some poor sap gets the boot?}

Buddy was just leaving the university's main office (why is there always so much paperwork?) when he nearly ran into a depressed-looking science teacher walking toward the main door.

"Sorry about that," the older duck whispered, making eye contact for only a second, before staring down at the ground again with a heavy sigh.

"Try to watch where you're going," Buddy commented, shaking his head as he watched the shorter man clutch the box he was holding to his chest as if it was his only possession. The salesman huffed as he straightened his jacket and side-stepped around the duck to leave. He had just put his hand on the door when a feminine voice caught his attention.

"WAIT! Dr. Bushroot!"

{Bushroot?}

"Oh, hello, Dr. Dendron." The sad little scientist turned around to meet the attractive woman walking quickly down the hall toward him.

"Oh, Reggie. I'm sorry to hear that you've been let go. If there's anything I can do for you..." The taller female duck, sporting her own lab-coat, gazed down at the dejected scientist with a look of pity in her eyes.

Buddy watched the pair converse, before rolling his eyes and heading toward his car. So what if his contact had been the cause of the duck's dismissal? What a pathetic man he was. That fortune-teller must have gone through the yellow-pages to get all the names for her little soul mate trick.

Without wasting another thought on the scientist, the salesman drove away.

(Several months later)

"From here on out, we will be known as the Fearsome Five!" Negaduck exclaimed proudly, smirking at his small group of super-villains.

Peering around the circle of chairs, Liquidator (formally known as Bud Flud) took the opportunity to evaluate his companions. There was Megavolt, an electricity-crazy rodent who seemed at least partially-insane. Quackerjack, a completely insane toymaker. Negaduck, the leader of their little group and the only person in the room who Liquidator was terrified of. And last, a skinny, violet-haired plant-duck with soft blue eyes. Everything seemed to scare him, so it was curious that someone as evil as Negaduck would include him in their group.

"Megavolt and Quackerjack, I want you two to work together on the next phase of the plan. Bushroot, take Liquidator to your greenhouse for now until I tell you otherwise," Negaduck ordered, giving the group a glare that clearly announced that the meeting was over and they should get the hell out of his room.

"Come on, Quacky, let's not waste time." The electric rat yanked his partner out the door.

"Um, so... I guess you're coming home with me then." The plant-duck looked away the moment Liquidator focused on him. A dark green tinge spread over the mutant's cheeks, clearly indicating a blush, of sorts.

Liquidator followed the violet-haired creature out of the warehouse. It didn't occur to him that his new-found partnership would eventually grow into something deeper and far more intimate.

(even more months later)

Like a spark in the night, a memory flickered to life as Liquidator held his lover close. A forgotten evening, a red-clad sorceress, a prediction... Bushroot. Watery eyes widened in shock as the slip of paper leaped to the forefront of the criminal's mind.

"Bushroot," the dog whispered aloud.

"Mmhm?" the botanist sighed, his head pressed against Liquidator's semi-firm chest.

The moment was so perfect that the former salesman loathed to ruin it, but he had questions that needed answers. "Enquiring minds would like to know who you were before the mutation," Liquidator finally asked, trailing wet fingertips down his lover's green back.

"No one special, really. Just a botanist working for the St. Canard University. Then I got fired and decided to prove that my experiment would work. But the results were - well, you know," the plant-duck replied, still lounging contentedly against the other mutant.

His guess had been correct. Bushroot had once been that wimpy little scientist that he'd inadvertently gotten fired. A surge of unexpected guilt filled Buddy's consciousness, prompting him to hold his lover tighter.

"Buddy? What's wrong?" Blue eyes peered up at Liquidator with concern.

"I have a – confession to make," Liquidator sighed. Before he could lose his nerve, he proceeded to confess his involvement in Bushroot dismissal from the university. All the while, the plant duck stared at him, his eyes getting wider with every word.

Finally, the scientist looked away. He seemed to study the ground as if deeply in thought. "Well, I guess life's just weird that way," the duck decided, smiling up at his gobsmacked lover.

"I got you fired, Reggie. It's my fault you rushed to experiment on yourself, and became a mutant. I am the worst soulmate in the world," Liquidator groaned.

"Soulmate?"

"Uh… never mind," the water-dog commented. Unexpectedly, the scientist began to laugh. It got to the point where Liquidator was literally having to support the duck's trembling body.

"Sorry, sorry. I just never thought I'd hear you call me your soulmate. That's so cute," Reggie chuckled, pressing his bill to Liquidator's wet muzzle.

"Don't you care that I got you fired, Reggie?"

"Dean Tightbill was looking for an excuse to fire me, and you just happened to give him one. I'd have ended up jobless, one way or another. I may not love the life of crime like you and the others do, but society isn't giving us any other choice, really. It's not like either of us could get a normal job," Bushroot stated, his green arms tightening around his lover.

"That is true," Liquidator admitted, pulling his plant duck closer.

"Besides, I like being your soulmate. It may not be scientific, but I received a similar prediction from a fortune teller at the carnival last year. I have to admit, I was not expecting to discover that 'Liquidator' would turn out to be an actual person."

Note: Going to end it there. I just wanted to finish up this little fic. I just adore this couple!