Neb: Scrooge and Vincent had been on their first adventure together without other family members. I initially wanted to introduce Goldie to Vincent through him, but decided against it as I had to focus on the new OC group I had created. I know there are a lot of OCs in this story, but if you don't like that, I do have another fanfic called Rage of the Red Duck where there is only the one OC plus his parents who never really show up. Everyone else in that story is cannon characters and it takes place after the fall of FOWL. That being said I rather like how this story has been turning out in spite how many creative liberties I've taken with new characters. As far as I'm concerned I've kept the canon main cast in character as well. Alright, I guess that's all I got for now. I hope you all enjoy the fanfic.
Vincent was back at the manor again cleaning up the pep cans Louie would leave lying around the couch. Again, he didn't have to, but tidying up after the younger duck kids made his stay in the manor feel less like he was imposing. Scrooge and Mrs. Beakley often had told him that he didn't have to. But that didn't stop Vincent. Vincent noticed Launchpad at the door and he was sweating heavily, not like someone who had run a marathon, but like someone who had something to hide.
"What is it?", Vincent wondered.
Launchpad was keeping his beak shut as he nervously glanced left and right.
"Is Webby planning a sneak attack?", Vincent joked. Again he got nothing from the taller duck. He sighed before putting down the waste bin he had been carrying. He headed towards the window that had a view of the front yard.
"Don't go there," Launchpad responded hastily.
"What is your problem?", Vincent sighed before looking out and seeing a familiar face outside the gates of the manor. "The old man."
"Beakley told me not to tell you," Launchpad groaned as he facepalmed.
"And you didn't," Vincent shrugged. "Don't worry about it, I'm not going near the old man." Vincent looked down saddened for a moment as he said that. He didn't know why he felt that way, the old man was an abuser, cut and dry. Mrs. Beakley had explained that after he left the hospital and Madame Aurora explained that to him when he was young. Heck he didn't even need there explanations, he knew they were right and had pieced that together himself when he was a kid. Vincent was about to close the blinds until he noticed Dewey and Webby approaching the front gate. "Oh no!" Vincent ran out past Launchpad and headed out of the manor as fast as he could. Despite the fact that the manor, the front yard, and the driveway were huge, Vincent managed to close the distance between himself and the two smaller ducks in no time.
"Your looking for Vincent?", Webby responded. "Are you a spy?"
"Not at all," the old man laughed. He turned to see Vincent heading towards the gate in a hurry. "Glad you made it boy, you wouldn't happen to have any cash on you. I got this deal together that will make me rich in no time. I just need a small loan."
"No," Vincent yelled. "I'm not giving you money anymore!"
"Relax boy," the old man shook his head. "It's not like I won't pay you back. I expected you to make me money when you lived with me. However, you don't anymore, and I am willing to treat this like all of my other loans. We are family after all."
"We aren't family," Vincent shook his head. "Not anymore."
"Vincent," Webby responded. "What is going on?"
"Yeah who's the old guy?", Dewey wondered.
"Just a part of my past," Vincent shook his head. "A part I don't want to deal with anymore."
"You're lying to me," the old man smirked. "You were always a bad liar boy. Always shifting your eyes away when speaking. Whenever you'd stand up to me, you always looked me dead in the eyes, but now."
"It's cause I can't stand to see you," Vincent growled.
"See," the old man laughed. "Dead in the eyes. There's the little snot I raised."
"Alright you need to leave," Webby decided. "Before I call my grandmother over here."
"You don't want that," Dewey smirked.
The old man looked at the two little ducks and then smiled. "You two remind me a bit of Vincent when he was young. I'll keep my eyes on the both of you."
"You stay away from them," Vincent ordered. "Back away from the gate now." Vincent grabbed onto one of his runes. He only have three runes and two crystals left after his battle against Rosina and his battle against Scrooge back in Egypt.
"Or you'll throw rocks at me?", the old man squinted. "I had worse happen, the other day a man was throwing rotten fruit at me."
"Why do you keep coming back," Vincent yelled. "There was a time when you wanted nothing more than for me to leave you alone."
"Look kid," the old man groaned. "We can be better, I can be the pops you always wanted. I just need some money. You know I always pay my debts back."
"With work," Vincent argued. "Not with actual cash. You always lose every penny that gets into your greedy hands!"
The old man wanted to strangle Vincent after that comment. Vincent may have been older then he use to be, but he was still a small twerp in the old man's eyes. His hand slipped through the bars to grab Vincent by the shirt, but his wrist was kicked immediately by the small duck girl. "Ow!"
"Back off," Webby yelled. "Forget my grandma, if you lay a hand on Vincent you'll have to deal with me!"
The old man back away and groaned before heading off. "This isn't over."
Vincent sighed before leading the other kids back towards the manor. "Tell Mrs. Beakley about what happened, don't leave out a single detail."
"On it," Dewey nodded before running inside.
Vincent sat on the front porch and saw Webby sat next to him.
"Was that you're dad?", Webby wondered.
"Biologically," Vincent nodded. "I was raised by my mother most my life, but when she passed I wound up in his custody. I ran away from him at age thirteen and then lived with Madame Aurora for three years until I met you guys."
"If he ever shows up again, I'll send him packing."
"It's not that simple Webby. I... I do miss him."
"But why?", Webby wondered. "He was so awful to you back there."
"He's been awful to me my whole life," Vincent nodded. "But it wasn't all his fault. I did talk back to him a lot, and we grew up poor."
"That's no excuse," Webby yelled. "The way he reached for you was like instincts, he's hurt you in the past. So much so that he doesn't even feel the need to apologize or make excuses for it anymore. It's like breathing to him, so why miss him?"
"Because he's the only blood relative I have left," Vincent groaned. "Even if the place was awful he still took me in when I had no where else to go. He was using me, but I didn't care. Everything he ever taught me made sense. That nobody does anything for nothing, that everything always has a price tag."
It's not right," Webby shook her head before looking down saddened. "I'm sorry you lost your mother. I know that's tough. My granny never really talks about my parents. I think something happened to them when I was young also. Not that I remember."
Vincent teared up hearing this and hugged Webby.
Webby smiled and hugged him back. "Sorry I drew the subject to me. You're the one who was upset."
"You don't ever have to apologize to me," Vincent responded as he wiped the tears from his eyes. "You're my sister after all."