Neb: Well Vincent spent the last chapter in the hospital. However, Just because he was out didn't mean the story was. In fact Vincent got several visitors during his time in the Hospital including Della Duck. Not just that, but Lena was brought back from the Shadow Realm by Violet and Webby who are now friends. Yes, there was also a bit of recap in the last chapter as well as Vincent went over his list of current enemies, but unbeknownst to him he had another enemy attacking his mind while he was asleep. Though the enemy hadn't been defeated, Vincent was able to get a good nights rest at the end of the chapter due to circumstances. That being said, it's time to check him out of the Hospital and have him move in with the Ducks, after all he's going to need allies and a well fortified home if he's going to fend off those who wish to harm him. I do not own Ducktales. I hope you enjoy the story.
Vincent was required by the hospital to be wheeled out to the Lobby rather then allowing him to walk. Not only that, but he wasn't allowed to leave until he got a signature from whomever was there to pick him up. "I've made it through the physical therapy though," Vincent argued as he was brought to an elevator by his nurse.
"That doesn't matter young man," the nurse responded. "It's hospital policy to make sure our patients are under someone's care within the hospital and out of it."
Vincent humphed as the elevator door opened and he was wheeled out into the lobby. Vincent saw Mrs. Beakley was waiting for him at the front desk signing papers. Launchpad was with her as well, so he was probably the driver. "I'm going to wind up back here again if I get in a car with him?", Vincent thought for a moment. He decided it was find to have Launchpad as the driver if Mrs. Beakley thought it was ok. Afterall Mrs. Beakley had proven to be the most responsible person in McDuck's Mansion.
"Oh hey, there's Vincent," Launchpad waved.
"Well it's about time boy," a gruffly, elderly, familiar voice spoke up.
Vincent turned his head shocked to see his old man standing in the lobby waiting for him as well. The old man now carried a cane and had grown out a beard, similar to Glomgold's, but it was as white as his feathers. His outfit hadn't changed much, he was always dressing in uniforms he'd get for free at whatever place he would be working at. This time he was wearing black dress pants and a white button down shirt. He was possibly a waiter or a valley, since Vincent knew the old man had experience being both.
"What, not going to give your old man a hug," the old man laughed at him.
"I'm not allowed to leave the chair," Vincent grumbled annoyed. Though hugging him was far from what Vincent wanted to do.
"So that's his dad?", Launchpad wondered.
"Mr. Tailfeather I presume?", Mrs. Beakley held out her hand to shake.
The old man looked at her hand and then turned back to Vincent ignoring her. "So boy, you finally turned up after all these years, and at a hospital no less. Don't you know how expensive these places are? Unless, did you actually make it big? How about you give your old man the cut he deserves?"
"First off, I'm broke," Vincent shook his head. "Second off, even if I wasn't, you don't deserve anything from me."
"Don't be such a drama queen boy," the old man laughed.
"Are we invisible?", Launchpad wondered.
"No he's just being rude," Mrs. Beakley sighed. "Mr. Tailfeather, if I could just have a word with you."
"Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time," the old man sighed. "Don't call me Tailfeather by the way, that's his mother's maiden name. Call me Teddy Paddlefoot, Ted, Teddy, or Paddlefoot. None of this Mr stuff, I'm not your better... yet."
"I see Vincent must have gotten his manners from his mother," Mrs. Beakley figured. "I am Bentina Beakley, the housekeeper of Scrooge McDuck. Your son has been through a great ordeal in your absence and I should hope you'd show him a little respect for that."
"Respect him for what?", Paddlefoot chuckled. "The little leech was always clinging to me when he was a child, all that's changed is he's been clinging to a billionaire and his housekeeper instead."
"That's not true," Vincent growled. "I hadn't met these people until I was sixteen. I've been working for Madame Aurora since I left you."
"If you been working for her, then I don't see why you didn't just stay with me," Paddlefoot yelled back. "I had plenty of stuff for you to do, and without your paycheck adding onto mine, I had to actually move out and find a new place. I kept you off the streets, and that was how you repaid me!"
"I don't want to talk to you," Vincent growled.
"They called me over here by the way," Paddlefoot pointed out as he pointed at Mrs. Beakley and Launchpad.
"You what?", Vincent responded as he glared at Mrs. Beakley and Launchpad.
"They gave this whole sob story about you being in the hospital and how I should step up and take responsibility," Paddlefoot gagged as he emphasized responsibility in the most childish sounding way possible. "But in a way they were right. I should have hunted you down when you were a boy. I thought you'd come back, the same as you always did. But that night I left you, I never saw you again."
"You left him?", Mrs. Beakley responded outraged.
"He kicked me into the snow and left," Vincent sighed. "He did that a lot, and if Artifact hadn't shown up, I probably would have come crawling back to him again."
"You were crawling back to me anyway," Paddlefoot pointed out with a chuckle. "I came back to the old apartment recently, and the front desk told me you had swung by. Your practically a man now and you decided to come crying back to pops!"
"Shut up," Vincent growled. "I don't care what I did before, it was a mistake."
"Yeah well I was called here to check you out of the hospital as your legal guardian," Paddlefoot pointed out. "And when I do, your coming back with me. I could use you to pay the bills again."
Vincent was about to say no, but he was interrupted by Mrs. Beakley.
"He won't be going with you," Mrs. Beakley growled. "I'll be checking him out myself."
"You're not his parent?", Paddlefoot smirked. "I have rank on this one."
"Please, an old abusive dad won't win in a court case against Scrooge McDuck," Mrs. Beakley pointed out. "If you take it to court anyways. Besides, he's practically an older brother to my granddaughter. I don't mind having one more grandchild if it means keeping him away from a foolish, old coward like you."
"You better watch it," Paddlefoot growled. "I might not have the money to keep up with your boss in court, but I have the connections to. I may have grown up poor, but I've always paid off my loans with work and then some. In fact, I'd say a lot of people in this town actually owes me favors instead of the other way around. As for Scrooge, I can't be afraid of a billionaire who can't seem to stay in one place. I could take you all to a courtroom while he's away on a business trip or maybe even when he's trying to clean up one of those magical messes he's unleashed on Duckburg."
"Don't threaten me Mr. Paddlefoot," Mrs. Beakley growled. "That would be quite unwise!"
"What's the housekeeper going to do?", Paddlefoot grinned. "Hit me with a feather duster? Even if you could hurt me in some way, it'll only make you look bad."
"Mrs. Beakley," Vincent spoke up. "You don't have to fight with him." Vincent looked down and sighed. "Let's just go already, I can't stand to see that useless old man's face."
"Useless?", the old man yelled. "I made you what you are! You are a natural born survivor thanks to me, and you would have never met any of these people if it weren't for me! If I didn't show you tough love, you'd be down below the mansion suffering like the rest of us when Duckburg gets attacked by shadows, or plants, or I don't know the money shark!"
Mrs. Beakley finally signed the paperwork on the desk and then nodded to Launchpad to start wheeling Vincent away.
The old man tried to get in the way, but Mrs. Beakley tossed him aside like he was nothing. "Ow! See, I can sue you for that housekeeper! I'll make my fortune like Scrooge and then you'll be working for me!"
"Don't look back," Mrs. Beakley spoke to Vincent as they headed out of the Hospital.
"I don't want to," Vincent sighed.
"That guy was yikes," Launchpad interjected.