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There were none in Duckburg who didn’t know the name McDuck. The mallard behind the name practically owned the town. From the many companies he owned in town to the massive Money Bin that loomed over the skyline of the city, Scrooge McDuck’s presence was everywhere. Most people around the world knew Scrooge as the richest duck in the world. Many knew him as a world famous adventurer. However, less knew him as a newlywed.
Scrooge McDuck’s association with a certain Fenton Crackshell sent the citizens of Duckburg into a tizzy. It wasn’t simply from the fact that they had a sizeable age gap, but that they were both men in a happy relationship. It was unfathomable to some people, and it was profitable to others who wanted to slander the McDuck name. However, with the help of some good press, Scrooge’s fortune turned for the better, and his relationship with Fenton blossomed. As of three months ago, Scrooge McDuck and Fenton Crackshell were officially married.
Tonight was the annual gala for the Duckburg Archaeology Society. For the last few years, Scrooge always presented artifacts from various adventures. They were always small things, so he was never too interested in this gala. This year, Scrooge had found the legendary Sword of Swanstantine. The Sword was said to amplify the abilities of those possessed of inner strength. Scrooge’s plan involved presenting the Sword at the gala before donating it to the Duckburg Museum. It would get him a pretty hefty tax break for the next few years, saving him thousands in the long run. It was a win-win scenario.
“Gosh, I always feel so weird dressing like this. I don’t think I ever put a suit on before I applied to work as your accountant in the first place!” Fenton said as he adjusted his suit in the mirror. It was impossible to keep the silly grin off his face. How could he, when he was attending his first public event with Scrooge since they got married?
Rolling his eyes at Fenton’s comment about having never worn a suit until he worked for him, Scrooge came up behind Fenton and scanned a critical eye over his younger husband’s outfit. “It’s important to dress well. We are significant members of Duckburg’s elite, whether we would like to be or not.”
A rumple on Fenton’s shirt revealed a misplaced button. Scrooge’s hands quickly got to work redoing the buttons on Fenton’s shirt. “Don’t be too upset if this event is boring, lad. I don’t enjoy these much myself. It’s a lot of rich folks showing off and stroking their own egos.”
“How could I not be excited, Scroogey? It’s our first event since our wedding!” Fenton exclaimed a bit too loudly, earning him a narrowed gaze from the billionaire.
“We’ve attended events like this before,” Scrooge pointed out. He was unable to share his husband’s enthusiasm at going to some fancy gala.
Fenton’s eyes sparkled in excitement. “Yes, but now I get to tell the world that you’re my husband! That you’re the light of my life, the pep in my step, the—“
Scrooge cut Fenton off with a kiss. It was a quick one, but it always left the accountant a blushing mess. More importantly, Scrooge discovered that it rendered Fenton silent for a few minutes. It was becoming his new favorite way to reel Fenton in when he began to ramble.
“Come along, me treasure. Duckworth should have the car ready for us,” Scrooge said as he left the bedroom, not bothering to check if his husband was following. He knew Fenton was always right behind him.
The car ride to the gala was mostly silent, save for the quiet radio in the background and Fenton occasionally commenting on how excited he was to be there. Scrooge simply held his husband’s hand as he saved his energy. There would be a lot of people both wanting to talk with Scrooge and wanting to talk about him, and Scrooge was going to have to face those people whether he liked it or not.
Tonight, Scrooge was feeling a twinge of something in his gut. Whenever he touched Fenton or was closer to him, he felt that foreign feeling dissipate. Maybe it was a gut instinct, or maybe it was some higher entity, but something was telling Scrooge to keep his husband close tonight.
When the car arrived at the function, it stopped in the middle of the street. Confused, Scrooge leaned over to the front seat to get a better view. They were the last in a line of many vehicles trying to enter the venue. Holding his spectacles up close to his eyes, Scrooge caught a glimpse of the entrance, which was littered with reporters and paparazzi. One thing was already going wrong tonight, and it was testing Scrooge’s short patience very early in the night.
“That’s why we’re being held up? Do they expect me to sit in my car and waste money on fuel just to show up on a red carpet for reporters to gawk and take photos?” Scrooge grumbled as he opened the door and got out. “Come along, Fenton. We’re walking the rest of the way. I’m not wasting my money on gas just to wait in line when our legs work perfectly fine.”
Scrooge stopped at the passenger side of the car and pointed to a parking lot across the street. “Duckworth, park the car in that lot. I don’t want you driving around and using up all the gas.”
Once the car was gone, Scrooge made his way to the venue entrance with Fenton following just behind. Fenton had been uncharacteristically quiet since Scrooge pointed out the reporters. A quiet Fenton was never a good thing.
“Alright, spit it out, Fenton. What’s got you all quiet?” Scrooge whirled around to face his younger husband with a touch of concern on his features.
Fenton glanced over to the entrance, where the paparazzi were already beginning to notice the couple. “What if—what if this goes poorly, Scroogey? The last time the press hounded us was when we first started dating, and you lost a ton of money because of our relationship. I don’t want you to lose money or investors because of me.”
Scrooge sighed and took Fenton’s left hand in his. He could still remember the sting he felt when his name was plastered next to Fenton’s in the local paper. The slander to his name cost him millions, and he nearly broke it off with Fenton for good then. Thankfully, he stuck with him, and things took a turn for a better soon after thanks to some good press.
He fiddled with Fenton’s wedding band with a wistful smile. “Aye, that was a rough time, but we moved past it, and I’ve gained more supporters than ever. If I wasn’t committed to you, would I have asked for your hand? Would you be wearing this ring? I’m Scrooge McDuck. I don’t make bad investments.”
Fenton sniffled. Scrooge wasn’t the most openly affectionate mallard, so hearing these words touched him. “You say such sweet things, Scroogey, my love.”
Now that Fenton wasn’t feeling anxious, Scrooge shot him a smirk. “Only to those I love, me treasure. Now, channel that excitement you were feeling earlier, and let’s face these puff-piece reporters together.”
The flashing lights from the paparazzi reminded Scrooge of his early relationship with Fenton. Just two years ago, the press would stalk and hound them both at any given opportunity. It was unthinkable that Scrooge McDuck, the confirmed billionaire bachelor of Duckburg, was dating a man half his age.
“Cheese and crackers! They’re just as relentless as ever!” Fenton cried as he flinched at the flashing lights.
Scrooge took Fenton’s hand in his own and began pushing past the crowd of paparazzi. He had a feeling tonight was going to be a draining night, but holding Fenton’s hand helped ease the anxiety he was feeling. “Out of my way! Shoo!”
Scrooge held Fenton’s hand tightly, not wanting to become separated from his younger husband in the sea of reporters. As he pushed his way through, he heard many statements being thrown around such as “newlyweds”, “wedding” and “children”.
A chill ran down Scrooge’s spine at the thought of children. Not that he hated the idea of raising children with Fenton, but that was a pipe dream. Scrooge didn’t like to call himself old, but he was definitely too old to be raising a child. He already cared for his nephews and Webby, the former of whom were reaching their teen years. They were already a handful enough without another child being thrown into the mix.
After nearly stumbling out of the crowd, Scrooge grabbed Fenton’s wrist and bolted inside the venue. He let out a deep breath as the doors closed behind them, serving as a barrier between them and the pestering questions from the press.
“You alright, me treasure?” Scrooge asked as he straightened his coat. “The press really are relentless. Like a pack of hungry hounds after a piece of meat. They can’t let a man live in peace.”
Fenton blinked as he turned back to the doors. “You know, I think I’m ok! I was worried we were going to be judged again, but some of the stuff I heard those reporters say made me realize that everybody has pretty much accepted that we’re married!”
Scrooge didn’t have the heart to point out the fact that not everyone would accept their relationship. Judging the two of them was simply old news, and that was the only reason the press dropped it. However, he let Fenton have this moment, knowing he needed to keep his husband in high spirits if they were going to make it through the night.
Once in the ballroom, the couple found an empty table and sat at it. So far, no one seemed to have noticed either of them, so Fenton took the opportunity to grab some snacks. “I’ll go grab us something to munch on from the snack table. Do you want anything to drink, my love?”
“If they have a glass of single malt whiskey, I’ll take that. I’m not sure why I’m feeling so tense, but I need something to loosen up.” Scrooge responded. After Fenton left, Scrooge drew in a deep breath. His stomach felt like it was doing flips, and his fingers tapped nervously against his cane. He was sure it was anxiety, but he wasn’t sure why he was feeling it. Everything was too loud and bright tonight, and the last thing he needed was for several desperate elites trying to make conversation with him.
“Mr. McDuck! It’s a pleasure to see you again at the gala this year.”
Scrooge had to hold back a grimace as he plastered a fake smile on his bill and turned to the sound of the voice. “Ah, Mr. Boorswan, good to see you again as well. I make it a point to attend this gala every year, even if I have nothing to show for it. It’s important to keep the cultural institutions of the city relevant and funded. I believe in a better educated populace.”
“My thoughts exactly, sir. Say, I heard you’re presenting the Sword of Swanstantine tonight. Is that true?” Mr. Boorswan asked in a hushed whisper.
Scrooge nodded a bit too rapidly. That anxiety was coiling in his gut again. The last thing on his mind was presenting that sword. Not when this sense of stress and anxiety was so intense. “Indeed. The contents of the presentation, however, are best kept a secret until later tonight.”
Right now, Scrooge needed Fenton. He hated to admit it, even two years later, but Fenton was his calming rock in the storm. Everything felt too loud and bright, and too many people were talking to him. He wanted his husband.
Unfortunately for Scrooge, there were more than a few people already lining up to talk to him. His patience was wearing thin too quickly tonight.
At the snack table, Fenton was attempting to grab some cocktail weenies, those tiny sandwiches with the toothpicks, and a drink for Scrooge, but he kept getting interrupted by other guests.
“Oh, are you Fenton Crackshell?”
Fenton turned to the voice with a smile. “That’s moi! How can I help you?”
The dog lady had a notepad out and tapped her pen against it. “Now, Mr. Crackshell. What’s it like being married to Scrooge McDuck? Estimates from our team say that your wedding was the “cheapest celebrity wedding in history.” What’s life like with a cheapskate like him? Do you eat three meals a day? Are you simply his boy toy?”
“Well, being married—“ Fenton began proudly. When the reporter’s words settled in, he felt a rush of protectiveness surge through him. “Wait a minute! Cheapskate? Scrooge may be… cheaper than most, but he’s not cruel! He treats his family like his greatest treasures. He would never starve me to save money!”
“And for your information, ma’am, I am not his “boy toy”, or whatever that means. Scroogey loves me, and I love him. He makes me feel like a somebody! He’s the light of my life, the—“ Fenton fell silent at the reporter’s expression. She wasn’t believing a word of what he said. There was no use in wasting any more time with her when Scrooge was waiting for him.
“You know what? My relationship with Scrooge is my private business. Good day!” Fenton huffed before grabbing his plate of snacks and the glass of whiskey and leaving.
When he returned to the table, Scrooge was surrounded by guests. The rich mallard was visibly annoyed even to those who didn’t know him. Yet, everyone still wanted their turn to speak with him. When his eyes landed on Fenton, there was a glimmer of relief.
“Please come back later. I’m not answering any questions right now,” Scrooge said to the crowd surrounding him. The words were polite, but his tone was laced with irritation. Once the people left, Scrooge sat back in his seat with a sigh. “See, I told you this gala was no fun. It’s exhausting every year. Frankly, this year feels more exhausting than usual.”
“I can certainly see that now. I was harassed by a reporter at the snack table. They wanted to know if you were so cheap that I didn’t even eat three meals a day. The audacity of some folks!” Fenton cried indignantly as he handed Scrooge the glass of whiskey.
Scrooge was quick to down the entire glass in one shot before stealing a snack off the plate Fenton had brought. “Thank you, Fenton. I needed that. A bit of liquid courage is just what I needed.”
Scrooge was able to settle his nerves somewhat with the drink. He also spent some time listening to Fenton ramble about a soap opera he had been watching his mother, as well as some work gossip about two of the Money Bin’s employees breaking up. Scrooge wasn’t that interested in what Fenton was saying, but he was appreciative of his husband’s rambling nonetheless. At times, it was a bit annoying, but it also served as a way to comfort Scrooge when he needed it.
“Can you believe it, Scroogey? After having a baby, and he still chooses the mistress?” Fenton concluded the story in disbelief. “Why marry someone if you don’t love them unconditionally forever?”
“I don’t believe in infidelity. If ya can’t love your spouse, then break it off. No sense in cheating. It causes more harm than good along the way.” Scrooge agreed as he gripped his cane a bit tighter.
Fenton stood and stretched. “I’ll be back soon, my love. The bathroom is calling my name like a long-lost lover in the night.”
Scrooge raised an amused eyebrow at his husband’s choice of words. “Have you been reading from Mrs. Beakley’s book collection again? I know for a fact you didn’t come up with those words on your own.”
Fenton chuckled shyly. “Guilty as charged. I’ll be back soon.” After pressing a kiss to the side of Scrooge’s bill, Fenton disappeared, leaving Scrooge to his own devices.
Fenton’s rambling had helped calm him somewhat, but now that he was alone, Scrooge felt the anxiety creeping back in. That coiling in his gut that made him want to break something and also run halfway across town was making itself known again. It made his feathers prickle. He wanted to go home and read a book quietly with Fenton’s head in his lap. That was his idea of a fun evening, not being harassed at a gala by desperate elites.
Some time passed. Scrooge counted exactly 12 minutes before he began to worry. What was taking Fenton so long? Maybe he wasn’t feeling that well. Against his better judgement, Scrooge waited for Fenton to return as his foot tapped impatiently against the ground.
The foot tapping soon turned into his entire leg bouncing up and down rapidly. His fingers also drummed against his cane. He checked his watch again. 18 minutes. It had been too long. With a huff, Scrooge stood and made his way towards the venue’s bathrooms, hoping to find where Fenton had wandered off to.
After finishing up in the bathroom, Fenton fixed his hair and tie before exiting. On the way back to the ballroom, he bumped into a young woman. She nearly fell to the ground, but Fenton’s superhero side was quick to kick in, and he caught her easily.
“Blathering blatherskite! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to bump into you.” Fenton apologized as he helped the woman to her feet.
When the woman’s eyes landed on Fenton’s, her eyes seemed to sparkle with infatuation. As he helped her to her feet, her hands lingered just a bit too long on his arm. Unfortunately for poor Fenton, all this was flying over his head.
“Oh, grazie. I did not see you there,” The woman responded in a heavy Italian accent.
“Woah, I like your accent. It sounds very fancy. Where’s it from?” Fenton asked curiously.
The woman giggled as she led Fenton away from the bathrooms and to another part of the venue away from the ballroom. “Have you never heard an Italian accent before? I feel that is one of the most identifiable ones besides a British one.”
Fenton felt a bit embarrassed, but he didn’t let it get to him. “I definitely have, but I don’t want to assume anything.”
“My name is Giulia. What’s yours?” Giulia asked as she linked her arm with Fenton’s.
Fenton was a married man, but he was still a man. A courteous yet very gullible man. In hindsight, he should’ve pushed her away, but Fenton began short-circuiting at her touch.
“I—um—Fenton…” Fenton mumbled. His heart belonged to Scrooge, but he was feeling more than flattered by Giulia.
Giulia led him to a balcony overlooking the city of Duckburg. She released him and leaned against the railing of the balcony. “It’s a beautiful night tonight.”
Fenton felt his breathing even out once Giulia released his arm. He leaned against the railing but kept a respectful distance between himself and Giulia.
“Pardon if this is a bit of an odd question, but what’s your favorite type of pasta?” Fenton blurted out.
Giulia tilted her head curiously before laughing. “Despite being from Italy, I’ve never been asked that before. I do prefer penne over everything else. You’re a funny man, Fenton.”
Fenton chuckled. “That’s nice to hear. Usually people are laughing at me. Not with me.”
Fenton’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. “As for my favorite, I love bow tie pasta! Especially bow tie Mac and cheese. It’s unfortunate that it’s just a kids meal at most restaurants.” His face fell for a moment.
Giulia was very confused. “Bow tie… pasta? What is that?”
“It’s pasta in shapes like a bow tie! They’re the best! I know people think it’s just for kids, but they taste great.” Fenton grinned.
Giulia scooted closer until her arm was brushing against Fenton’s. “You’re unlike any man I’ve ever met, Fenton. You have a child-like spirit. You’re very honest. You wear your heart on your sleeve. I like that about you. I need someone in my life like that.”
Fenton shot her a smile. “Thanks, good luck finding someone like that.”
Giulia rolled her eyes playfully as she placed her hand on Fenton’s arm. “I meant you, tonto…”
Before Fenton could say anything, Giulia leaned in and kissed him.
Scrooge had been wandering the event venue for a while. Now that he was away from others, he felt his anxiety simmer. However, he still needed to find Fenton. Knowing him, he had probably gotten stuck somewhere and needed help.
When he didn’t find Fenton in the men’s restroom, he set out to check other areas of the venue. Scrooge needed to find him fast, because he had to present the Sword of Swanstantine to the Archaeological Society within the next 30 minutes. He wanted a few minutes alone with his husband to calm himself. The mallard wasn’t used to anxiety or stress in a public setting like this, but he knew the way to handle it was to spend time with Fenton.
“Where in the blazes is he?” Scrooge muttered as he checked one of the empty ballrooms.
Scrooge checked his watch. 15 minutes left until he had to present the Sword onstage. That sinking feeling in his stomach had returned. Scrooge had only felt like this a handful of times in his life, and he hated whenever it did. After he started dating Fenton, Scrooge quickly realized how much the young man truly meant to him. Now, two years later and three months married, Scrooge was absolutely head over heels in love with Fenton, even if he wouldn’t admit it out loud. Fenton was his rock in the storm, and he’d be damned if he was going to let anything keep them apart for long.
Hearing Fenton’s voice made his heart thump in his chest. In fact, simply hearing or seeing Fenton from a distance made the old mallard feel like a young man. Even after two years, Scrooge still felt a rush of excitement every time he saw his husband. He would even admit, if only to himself, that being with Fenton made him happier than all the gold in his Money Bin.
Scrooge followed Fenton’s voice to a nearby balcony. When he rounded the corner, Fenton was standing with a young woman. He quickly backed up so he could eavesdrop. Fenton would never cheat on him. He knew that. Yet, seeing him not push that woman away was infuriating. Was Fenton that naive? Couldn’t he see that woman was flirting with him?
“… You wear your heart on your sleeve. I like that about you. I need someone in my life like that.”
“Thanks, good luck finding someone like that.” It took everything in the wealthy mallard’s power to not facepalm. His husband really was that clueless.
Scrooge felt his chest tighten as the woman placed her hand on Fenton’s arm as she leaned in closer. “I was talking about you, tonto.”
When the woman kissed Fenton, he felt his heart break. Scrooge wasn’t processing what they were saying, but he did see Fenton gently push the woman away with a frown. Even so, it did little to quell the betrayal Scrooge was feeling.
Scrooge was hyperventilating. He knew it because when he stormed away, he stopped at a table and tried to catch his breath. He clutched his chest as his heart tried to break out of his ribcage.
“Scroogey? Scroogey? Are you ok?”
Moments later, Fenton was beside Scrooge with worry plastered across his face. “Scrooge? Are you ok? What’s got you like this?”
Feeling a sudden wave of anger and hurt, Scrooge whirled around and pushed Fenton back with his cane. “What’s got me like this? Maybe I’m like this because my husband kissed someone else!”
Fenton took a step back at his words as guilt washed over him. “Oh, you saw that? I didn’t know she was trying to hit on me, Scroogey. Honest!”
“And yet, you still let her kiss you.” Scrooge muttered as he gripped his cane tightly.
This wasn’t fair. Fenton had pushed the woman away and told her he was married. This was all a mistake, and yet, Scrooge was still upset. “Scroogey, I pushed her away. I told her I was married. I’m sorry if I led her on, but that wasn’t my intention. I had no idea she was interested in me romantically.”
“How could you not? She was making all these romantically charged remarks, and you didn’t know? I can’t believe how naive and oblivious you are sometimes!” Scrooge snapped loudly. As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it.
Scrooge immediately tried to backpedal, but it was too late. “Fenton, look, I didn’t mean—“
“No, you’re right. I am naive. And I am oblivious. I always have been. My mistake for not realizing she was hitting on me. I’m sorry. I’ll try not to be as clueless anymore.” Fenton muttered. Had anyone else been saying these words, it would’ve come off as condescending. Because it was his beloved Fenton saying this, he knew it was all genuine.
Fenton wiped away a tear that had slipped out as he hugged himself. “I should be glad you even gave a dolt of a bean counter like me a chance. I can’t ever compare to someone like you, Scroogey. Sorry for upsetting you.”
Scrooge reached out and grabbed Fenton’s wrist as he tried to step away. “Fenton, wait. The words just slipped out. I can explain—“
“Mr. McDuck? There you are! The president of the Society has been search for you. You’re due onstage in 5 minutes to present the Sword.” A nervous young waiter ran up to the married couple with relief.
Fenton crossed his arms and wiped another tear away with a sniffle. “Go present the Sword. That’s what we came here for, right? Good luck.”
Scrooge felt a pit open in his stomach as he left to follow the young waiter back to the stage in the grand ballroom, leaving Fenton here in one of the back halls. Scrooge was a proud and prideful man, and he hated to admit when he was wrong. He owed Fenton an apology, and yet, he couldn’t bring himself to say the words “I’m sorry” to his husband.
Scrooge paced backstage. He knew what to say to present The Sword, but every time he attempted to speak, the words were caught in his throat. Fenton was supposed to be backstage hyping him up, but the young mallard was nowhere to be found. That tightness in Scrooge’s chest was worse than ever.
“Mr. McDuck, you’re on in 30 seconds,” came the voice of one of the sound engineers beside him.
How could Scrooge have been so foolish? How could he have lashed out at Fenton like that, when what happened with that girl was clearly a misunderstanding? Jealously was an ugly thing, and it had reared its head and caused Scrooge to retaliate in a way he didn’t want to. In an effort to soothe his hurt, Scrooge hurt the one he loved most.
Scrooge was beckoned onstage a moment later. He followed numbly behind someone until they pushed him onto the stage. With the heat of the stage lights blazing down on him, Scrooge could feel himself sweating. His eyes scanned the crowd for any sign of Fenton. It was an unconscious response, as Scrooge did this at every meeting he attended with Fenton. However, this was the first time he didn’t spot his husband in the crowd.
Fenton didn’t come? That hurt a lot more than Scrooge cared to admit. As he stepped behind the podium, Scrooge swallowed the massive lump in his throat. His voice cracked as soon as it came out. “I—uh, hello, esteemed guests of the Duckburg Archaeological Society. I am Scrooge McDuck, and today, I’ve brought a wonderful artifact with me here today."
Scrooge stepped away from the podium to the center of the stage. There was a large object covered by a cloth. Upon removing the cloth, the Sword of Swanstantine was revealed to the crowd. The golden sword stood proudly in its glass case as the stage lights reflected upon the chipped, metal body. The audience clapped politely for a while before falling silent.
Normally, Scrooge would’ve been stroking his own ego at the accomplishment. He would’ve marched to the podium with his chest puffed out and presented the award to all the rich fools here and walked away with a hefty tax break. However, Scrooge was feeling hollow inside. Guilt gnawed at him, making it impossible to enjoy himself.
As Scrooge returned to the podium, he spotted movement on the far end of the room. His heart leapt in his chest. He recognized that frame from anywhere. It was Fenton. He seemed to be hiding in the hopes that Scrooge wouldn’t spot him from the stage. Despite the harsh words that had left the old miser’s beak earlier, Fenton still came to support him. Fenton always spoke about not deserving Scrooge, but it was in times like this when Scrooge was reminded of just how much he truly didn’t deserve Fenton.
Once the presentation was over, Scrooge rushed over to where he spotted Fenton earlier. He didn’t find Fenton in that exact spot, but he found him just outside the main ballroom with an uncharacteristic glare on his face. Even crossed arms was something the accountant almost never did.
Scrooge approached Fenton slowly with a tiny smile, hoping it would lighten the mood just a bit. “I saw you during my presentation. It was nice to have you there for support.”
When Fenton didn’t even meet his eyes, he knew he was in much deeper trouble than he realized. Sympathy and empathy were foreign concepts to Scrooge, even after years of living with his nephews. Mustering the last of his courage, Scrooge stepped closer and placed a hand on Fenton’s arm. “Fenton? Can you look at me, please?”
After a tense moment, Fenton’s head turned. “What? Are you just gonna sprinkle some nice words onto this hoping it’ll fix it?” Fenton snapped, his voice much colder than Scrooge had ever heard it. Even through the sniffling, it didn’t sound like his Fenton. “I stayed because I know how much this means to you. Because I love you. I’m sorry about what happened with that girl, but you know I would never do anything to compromise our love.”
“I know, me treasure. I know,” Scrooge mumbled softly.
Fenton’s glare only deepened at Scrooge’s words. “Oh yeah? If you know that, then why did you say those things to me? You know I can’t change who I am. I’m naive and oblivious sometimes, but I’m the most loyal duck you’ll ever meet. How could you ever doubt that? And you didn’t even say anything to the girl that kissed me. Instead, you took it out on me!”
Fenton knew he was shouting at this point, but he was too deep in his emotions to care. Scrooge was a rough-around-the-edges kind of man, but he was never outright mean like this. Playful banter was a staple in their relationship, but snapping at Fenton for his insecurities was crossing a line.
Scrooge physically flinched at Fenton’s outburst. He was vaguely aware of the attention they were attracting, but he knew pointing that out at the moment would only rile Fenton up even more. Instead, Scrooge stayed silent until some of the tension left Fenton’s body. He then took his husband’s hands in his own, knowing Fenton always found comfort in physical touch.
“Look, Fenton. I’m an old man, and I’ve seen quite a bit in life, but… you know relationships aren’t my strong suit.” Scrooge began softly. When Fenton tried to speak, Scrooge held his hand up to silence him. “I’m not using that as an excuse anymore. I’ve been with you for 2 years and 3 months, and they’ve been some of the best of my life. During that time, I’ve learned a lot about what it means to be in a proper relationship.”
“You know my story with Goldie already. I don’t consider that a normal relationship by any means. I’ve learned what a normal relationship is through you. Now, I know what’s right and what’s wrong, and what I said to you was so wrong, Fenton.” Scrooge admitted. As a savvy businessman, it was hard to admit when he had messed up, even to the love of his life.
Scrooge’s thumbs rubbed gentle circles into the backs of Fenton’s hands. “I’m sorry, Fenton. I’m so, so sorry. I had a flare up of jealousy that I’ve never experienced before, and I lashed out at the nearest person. That just happened to be you, me treasure. I’m so sorry.”
“I understand if you’re still mad at me. I would be. But I hope—“ Scrooge was pulled into a bone crushing hug that squeezed the air out of his lungs.
Fenton squeezed Scrooge until he felt a tap on his arm. He then released Scrooge with a sheepish smile. “Sorry. And don’t worry. You’re already forgiven. I just—“
Fenton’s face fell a bit. “I was worried you weren’t going to apologize. You’re tougher than the toughies and smarter than the smarties, but I was worried maybe you were too tough to apologize, even though wha you said was correct.”
“I am naive and oblivious for many things, but you chose to love me anyway. I’m forever grateful. And I’m just glad you were able to apologize. I know how hard that is for you. I just—it was something I needed to hear without asking you to do it.” Fenton said as he pulled Scrooge into a more gentle hug. As he rested his head on Scrooge’s shoulder, a mischievous smile appeared on Fenton’s beak. “Maybe we should start listing your flaws and insecurities so we can be even.”
Scrooge pulled away with a raised eyebrow. “I don’t think you want to play that game with me, Fenton. Let’s wrap this up early and go home. I’d rather spend the evening at home with you rather than with these self-absorbed heathens.”
Back at the mansion, the kids had already been put to bed, and Mrs. Beakley and Duckworth were off doing their own things, leaving the newlywed couple to their own devices. Scrooge stopped in the kitchen to retrieve a bottle of wine and two wine glasses before heading upstairs.
Scrooge wasn’t a fan of technology in the bedroom, but he did have an old radio on one of his dressers when he was in the mood for music. Tonight, Scrooge was craving some music to quell the lingering thoughts in his mind. Despite already having apologized, Scrooge’s mind was still rerunning the incident over and over wondering why he said what he said and how he could do better in the future.
“Golly, Scroogey. If I didn’t know better, I’d say your head was miles away. Maybe in Iceland!” Fenton said as he took the glasses from Scrooge’s hand and poured some wine into them.
Scrooge sighed as he took the nearest glass and stared into the wine with a forlorn expression. “Aye, I feel like that. The more I think about what I did, the worse I feel. I know you already forgave me, but the guilt is still eating at me.”
Fenton’s eyebrows furrowed at his words. Eventually, he downed his glass of wine before gently coaxing Scrooge to drink his own glass. When he finished, Fenton placed Scrooge’s glass down before taking his hands and pulling him close. They fell into a steady sway in each other’s arms. No words were shared for a few minutes, and the only sound was the radio playing an old tune in the background. Fenton’s embrace served as a reminder to Scrooge that, despite what had happened, he was still here.
“You know, I make a lot of mistakes too, but—“ Fenton began, only to be cut off.
Scrooge snickered. “Aye, yer notorious for it.”
Fenton rolled his eyes playfully. “Hey! Anyway, my point is that I’ve made big mistakes, and sometimes I’ve hurt the people I love. The important thing is that I owned up to them. The guilt can linger for a while, but at least you did the right thing.”
“Oh, what did I ever do to deserve you?” Scrooge sighed wistfully as he pressed his head against his taller husband’s chest.
“You gave a poor bean counter like me a chance! I promised to work hard and make you lots of money. You saw my potential, even when I made mistakes.” Fenton responded eagerly as he kissed the top of Scrooge’s head.
Scrooge couldn’t help but smile as Fenton slowly twirled him and pulled him close again. “And I found something worth more than all the gold in me Money Bin.”
“Aww, you say such sweet things, my love!”
Scrooge winked at Fenton. “Only to my favorites.”
As the song ended, the two paused to pour themselves more wine. After 3 glasses, Fenton was already starting to feel the alcohol settle in. However, the two continued to dance with each other until Fenton began stumbling a bit. That’s when Scrooge sat him down on the bed with a smile. Fenton was a little tipsy, but not so much that he missed the loving expression in Scrooge’s eyes.
“Alright, I think that’s enough for one night. Let’s get these stuffy suits off and head to bed.” Scrooge murmured as he began undoing Fenton’s tie. When his tie was loose and a few button on his shirt were opened, Scrooge placed his hand on Fenton’s exposed chest, earning him a heavy blush from the accountant. “I definitely like what I’m seeing, but let’s leave that for another night. There’s been too many emotions, and I’m all worn out.”
The two continued their nighttime routine. When they were finally under the covers, Fenton was surprised to find Scrooge cuddling up to him. When he met Scrooge’s eyes, Scrooge expression narrowed as he glared elsewhere. “Don’t read too much into this. I’m just—I’ve been too vulnerable tonight. I need some support. That’s all.”
“Don’t worry, Scroogey. I don’t mind. Goodnight, my love. Sweet dreams.” Fenton murmured as his lips met Scrooge’s in a quick peck.
Scrooge let out a sigh of relief as he snuggled into Fenton’s embrace. It was unusual for him to be so affectionate, but he didn’t care. Tonight, this was exactly where he wanted to be. “Goodnight, me treasure. I love you.”
Fenton couldn’t help but smile at his words, but he stayed still and silent until the old miser’s breathing evened out. Once Scrooge was asleep, Fenton finally let himself drift off to the thought of what the future would bring for them.