Goldie makes assumptions. Scrooge gets the upper hand. Beakley just wants to finish this job.
"...taller than I expected."
Everyone who was anyone had heard about them: first appearing together at an auction in 1967, then spotted at several exclusive events over the next decade and a half. It wasn't difficult to see what was happening: Scrooge McDuck was in a long term relationship with a woman who didn't break his heart every decade or so. Good for him, she supposed.
Goldie scoffed and grabbed a martini off the bar that someone else had ordered and forgotten about. She stared at the duo - not dancing, not touching, they weren't even looking at each other...but they were talking about something. And whatever it was, they seemed very serious about it.
It didn't take a genius to realize it wasn't a discussion about their relationship or the flower arrangements at this gallery opening. Goldie started to think she'd underestimated this partnership by categorizing it as a simple romantic affair.
Powered by only curiosity (and absolutely zero jealousy), Goldie decided to investigate and figure out what was up.
"She's almost guaranteed to show up here," Beakley mumbled, scanning her eyes across the room.
"It just doesnae seem tae be F.O.W.L.'s usual style," Scrooge commented as he grabbed some food from the nearby table. "Art theft is a bit out of their lane, don't ye think?"
"I don't believe she's associated with F.O.W.L., Mr. McDuck. But she's become quite the topic of conversation around headquarters." She noticed his full plate and rolled her eyes. "Apparently managed to escape several agent's attempts at apprehending her."
"Hmmm," Scrooge mumbled into his food.
Beakley honestly didn't understand why he had to come. Yes, the gallery opening was for the famous, rich, and elite only...but they could just give her a fake identity for the night. Being the "date" of Mr. Self-Absorbed-Money-Grubbing-Multi-Billionaire-McDuck was not her idea of a fun night nor was he an ideal partner to fight with. He was very frustrating, even when he somehow managed to survive despite his lack of foresight or planning.
A flash of blonde suddenly moving from her spot across from them caught Bentina's eye. She glared and looked around, trying to spot that woman again. Could that have been their art thief? She was supposed to be tall with dark hair, but there could always be an accomplice or disguise.
No sight of her.
"Keep a look out for a short blonde woman in a black dress. I noticed her earlier, but she's disappeared...could be working with-"
"How blonde?"
Beakley, annoyed at the interruption, glared down at him, only to find a surprisingly serious look on his face. "What? What kind of question is that?"
"If she was frustratingly beautiful wi' long golden locks 'at ye just want tae comb yer fingers through an' bright green eyes 'at light up th' room...we could be in trouble."
She blinked. "...you have to be aware of how personal that description was. Obviously I don't identify with any of those feelings."
"Argh, ye know what Ae mean!" Scrooge huffed. "Ae hope Ae'm wrong, but it might've been-"
"Hey there, lovebirds. Talking about me?"
Beakley jumped and got into a defensive stance, one fist angled right at Goldie's face. Scrooge, meanwhile, didn't even flinch, instead opting to continue eating the devilled eggs on his plate and not worry about their interruption.
"Goldie O'Gilt," he said between bites. "Th' Ice Queen of Dawson."
"Aww, Scroogey..." Goldie wrapped an arm around his shoulder and circled him, grabbing an egg off his plate. "I love when you call me a queen." She popped it in her mouth and Scrooge tried his best not to glare.
Bentina racked her brain to try and figure out what was happening, despite the fact that it was pretty clear and right in front of her. Certainly she wasn't watching a woman of certain attractiveness willingly flirting with Scrooge McDuck? Though, when she gave it a little more thought, the name Scrooge said was ringing just a few bells…
Ah.
"...is this your ex, Mr. McDuck?"
Goldie raised an eyebrow and moved her hand from Scrooge's shoulder to her hip. "Is that what you're calling me now?"
Ignoring her, Scrooge looked back at Beakley. "Donae worry abit 'er, 22. She may be trouble, but she'd ne'er work wi' someone else."
"No one but you, Scroogey-poo," Goldie said with a smirk and leaned forward to kiss him. He managed to dodge out of the way, but Goldie just smiled.
Beakley was feeling more confused than ever while watching this weird little dance of theirs. They were apparently exes, but clearly not, and Scrooge seemed to dislike her, but also his previous description of her was full of...desire. Perhaps she just didn't understand man/woman relationships like she thought she did. Or...perhaps these two were just odd. Maybe both.
Goldie finally acknowledged Beakley with a half-lidded stare. "So you're S.H.U.S.H., then?"
The younger woman's eyes widened under her glasses. "Why would you say that?"
"Well, considering the amount of times you've mentioned F.O.W.L. since arriving here, it became a bit obvious." She stepped a bit closer to Beakley and glared. "Have they started paying or did Scroogey hit his head so hard he's doing charity work now?"
Scrooge grumbled into his glass while Bentina considered the best way to answer that. "...wouldn't you rather be asking him that? I'm a little busy to answer your pointless questions."
Goldie frowned and reached into her purse, taking out a small golden compact mirror. "Ah, yes, I heard you mention some sort of art thief. If it's the tall girl who can jump into paintings, she was two rooms to the right last time I checked."
"What?" Beakley spat out, already feeling nothing but ire towards this woman. "Mr. McDuck, stay right here and keep a lookout while I go check."
She took her leave, and Goldie turned to face her man. He looked back at her and immediately wished he hadn't - getting sucked in was much too easy. He was too weak to look away for long.
"Scrooge..." Goldie walked back over to him and took his glass of water, taking a sip. "I'm surprised, honestly. She's much taller than your usual type."
He huffed. "If mah usual type is ye, 'en most everyone is taller."
Unoffended, Goldie finished off his glass. "I suppose you've always liked women who can take you down."
Scrooge mulled on that for a few seconds, really taking in the implications of her statement. When realization hit, he smirked bigger than ever before and looked Goldie right in the eyes. "O'Gilt...are ye jealous?"
She was briefly taken aback and shook her head. "Excuse me?"
"Yoo t'ink Beakley and Ah are…together! And yoo're mad abit it!" He could not have been happier at that moment. It wasn't often he was able to throw Goldie off balance, but clearly the realization that she was wrong about his "partner" was leaving her embarrassed. "Deny it all ye want, Goldie Girl - yoo've ne'er been more transparent!"
"I'm not…" she started to say, but stopped herself with a sigh. "Alright, fine. Take this victory with some dignity, will you?"
Scrooge laughed and put his plate down. "If better music was playin' Ae'd ask for a dance right noo."
She rolled her eyes, but Scrooge could see a hint of a smile on her face as she nudged his shoulder. Maybe coming here wasn't a waste of his time after all. Not that catching a hardened criminal wasn't a good use of his time, but...well. An art gallery three states away from home wasn't really how he'd wanted to spend his night.
"So did ye actually see someone jump intae a paintin'?" Scrooge asked, suddenly remembering what she'd told Beakley earlier.
"Oh, yeah." Goldie shrugged. "At first I thought there was a gas leak, but I saw her go in and out and then back into another one. Looked pretty young, too. Fresh out of high school."
"Hmm..." Scrooge nodded and looked over to see Beakley headed their way again, a few random splotches of paint all over her dress and an exasperated look on her face. "Looks like she got awa'."
"Doesn't she always have that look on her face?"
He chuckled. "It sure seems like it."
As Beakley walked the rest of the way towards him, Scrooge felt a small peck on his cheek and turned to see Goldie had disappeared. Pity - he was having fun just chatting with her like they did back in the day. He always enjoyed the opportunity for them to just...talk. But he supposed she wasn't interested in talking to someone new.
"So what's th' status, 22?"
"The status is that she painted two giant dogs which proceeded to attack me and then she jumped out the window while shouting that she was headed for some exhibit in St. Canard," Beakley grumbled. "And where did your girlfriend go?"
Scrooge rubbed his cheek and sighed. "Goldie...goes where she wants. Ah can ne'er keep track of 'er."
"Sounds healthy." She nodded towards the door. "We need to contact HQ immediately."
He huffed and nodded back. "It's complicated."
As they headed towards the exit, Goldie poked her head around a corner and watched them walk away. This was quite the enlightening night for her, and she hoped to get the opportunity to fight Agent 22 at some point. Until then, she'd just check the papers and watch from afar. As of that moment, Goldie strained her neck to hear the tail-end of their conversation.
"...did ye say ye were attacked by painted dogs?"
"You can't possibly think I bought this dress with the paint splatter already on it?"
"Eh...Ae ne'er really understood fashion. Who am Ah to judge yer style?"
"Oh, shut up."
And this fic is doooone! I'm hoping canon doesn't contradict it at any point (just kidding, any mention of Goldie in canon makes me happy I don't care what headcanons of mine get thrown out). Obviously I will be writing more Scroldie fics soon...I'm on a kick right now so perhaps very soon. Thanks for reading!
(also if it's not obvious, the villain of this chapter is Splatter Phoenix from Darkwing Duck. she's much younger here and hasn't met Darkwing yet. but in a few years time, she'll make her way there!)