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[Y/N] yawned and tiredly recounted the days they have been couped up in the McDuck manor—76 days with the exception of yesterday and that “disaster of an adventure” Donald had called it. It wasn’t because they were being held hostage at the manor or anything of that sort, it was more of [Y/N] not being a fan of going outside and getting a taste of the harsh Calisota sun and breathing in the ocean air. They stared at the humming machine in front of them as it slowly brewed another pot of coffee. They were obsessed with the heavily caffeinated beverage regardless of the off-putting taste when they drank it plain. The homeowner loathed the bitter caffeinated drink but continued to buy the cute little machine capsules for [Y/N]. Despite Scrooge’s generosity, he constantly pushed for [Y/N] to try to drink something healthier, like tea. But to no avail. They refused time and time again. His tea didn’t have enough caffeine for them to make it through the long and boring days, it wasn’t sugaring enough to please their tastebuds, it just wasn’t a good drink.
They sighed and grabbed their favorite Irish pot’o’gold themed mug out of the designated mug cabinet (little joys in life consisted of collecting unnecessary objects that reminded them of their father-figure, but in a “I’m making fun of you, this isn’t meant to be affectionate” sort of way). They placed the mug down by the whirring machine and paced the kitchen, waiting for the slow machine to brew a full pot.
“Good morning [Y]—.” Bentina froze in the kitchen entry way. She watched the young adult pace back and forth in front of the machine. “[Y/N], you shouldn’t be up and about just yet. What are you doing up?” She asked.
[Y/N] stopped in their tracks and glanced over at the housekeeper. “I never went to bed.”
“Oh…” Bentina’s voice trailed. “Dear, that’s not good.” She started.
“I don’t want a lecture about what’s good for me. I know what’s good for me and what’s not, Mrs. B. There is only so much I can control.” [Y/N] snapped. They watched Bentina closely. “Sorry.”
Bentina shook her head. “It’s quite alright, you’re exhausted/. Exhaustion causes irritation.”
“I suppose…” Their voice trailed.
“Mr. McDuck wanted to speak with you today, he’s in his study if you want to talk with him now.” Bentina walked past [Y/N] and continued with her house keeping duties. “And try not to drink your coffee in front of him.”
They smirked. “I’ll drink the whole pot in front of him.”
Bentina sighed and nodded. “I know you will.”
[Y/N] quickly grabbed the finished pot and with a newfound and mischievous energy. They made their way to Scrooge’s study, walking faster than their legs have been moving. They slunk past a groggy Donald, who barely managed a “good morning” as he passed them. [Y/N] nodded in response. They almost felt bad for Donald, but they remembered that he’s only tired because chose to join the McDuck family on their adventure, much like [Y/N] and virtually everyone else. The adventure was something… [Y/N] stopped in their tracks and shifted their thoughts from the events from yesterday to the pot of coffee in their hands. They quickly lifted the pot to their bill and chugged what felt like half of the pot (but in reality, it was probably only two large gulps worth of liquid). They continued their journey toward Scrooge’s favorite hiding place in the manor.
It was strange to [Y/N], being part of the McDuck family without actually being related to anyone within the manor. How it came about was nothing but a blur to the young adult because it literally happened in a blur. They stopped at the door to Scrooge’s study and knocked.
“Come in.” Scrooge bellowed from behind the cracked door.
[Y/N] pushed the door open and flashed their father-figure a tired and lopsided grin. “Mornin’.”
“Do I smell that disgusting drink?” He didn’t look up from his desk. “Close the door behind ya.”
“Mhm.” [Y/N] pushed the door closed behind them and walked toward his desk. They sat down on one of the two chairs in front of the desk. “Mrs. B said you wanted to see me this morning?” They asked.
Scrooge nodded, still not looking up from his desk. “Yes, but I wasn’t expecting ya this early!” He peered up at the young adult. “You’re still full’a surprises.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” They deadpanned.
Scrooge nodded disappointedly. “I know you don’t.”
The silence grew between them as Scrooge had begun to forget [Y/N]’s presence in his study in favor of finishing his work before the day had really begun. His bill was buried deep in financials for the Money Bin and requests and suggestions from the Board and complaints and other papers from his employees and papers upon papers for other things concerning the Money Bin. His desk was full of business things that [Y/N] refused to understand because it looked too tedious and time consuming, they would much rather do anything but business—adventuring, directing, teaching, dance, acting, retail, food service, anything but owning a business! Well, none of those things actually seemed like things [Y/N] would like, but sometimes they did like those things. From their own rising boredom of the world around them, they begun to suspect that Scrooge was going to drill them about their future again. He only did that because he cared about them and wanted nothing more than for [Y/N] to have a future (unlike Donald who became a freeloader and unlike Della who has a list of mistakes that matches the length of her lists of successes). [Y/N] wasn’t the only one Scrooge cared for, the children ought to have futures better than Donald and Della as well; he wanted the future, the new generation to be as successful as he is, if not more so.
“I don’t want another lecture about my future.” [Y/N] spoke up and pulled their father-figure out of his work.
Scrooge looked up at the duck and raised his eyebrows. “What made ya think we were going to discuss that?”
They shrugged their shoulders. “Honestly, it seems to be the only conversation we have anymore. I miss when I could tell you about why the sky is blue or why a car engine works.”
“But you don’t know how a car engine works.” Scrooge knitted his eyebrows together.
“That’s beside the point, Scrooge.” They sighed.
Scrooge leaned back in his chair. “Scrooge?”
“That’s your name and I ought to use it, right?” [Y/N] said.
He blinked. “You’re family.”
[Y/N] inhaled deeply. “Am I?”
“What do you mean?” Scrooge asked.
“I don’t really feel like family, I never have.” [Y/N] said. “And I don’t actually want to talk about that either. I don’t really want to talk to you about anything personal.”
Scrooge swallowed. “I wanted to talk to you about what I witnessed yesterday.”
“I don’t understand.” They said.
“We could’ve lost you. That was a nasty fall. You could’ve died.” Scrooge said firmly. “That was more than a 10-foot drop, [Y/N]. I’m surprised you walked away with scratches.”
[Y/N] inhaled sharply. “I’m fine.”
Scrooge shook his head. “No, I don’t think you are. Honestly, I was beginning to think you were going through a phase that was similar to Donald’s—you know, the one he doesn’t talk about. I thought you were just avoiding the family, being rebellious, and learning who you are. But I was wrong. You willingly let that happened and you laughed about it. You laughed and wished it had killed you.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” They played dumb.
Scrooge sighed. “You’re not well, whether you want to admit it or not. None of us are daft, it’s not like we haven’t seen it before. Sure, at first, we missed the obvious signs, but we all know better now and we’re all very worried about you. [Y/N], family is the greatest adventure of all, and it would be a shame if you weren’t part of that adventure. I don’t want to see a repeat of yesterday.” He said.
“You can’t stop how I feel.” [Y/N] deadpanned.
Scrooge shook his head. “No, but I can get you some help. I have friends who know people, Donald knows people. There are people out there who help people like you for a living.”
[Y/N] looked down. “Are you going to get rid of me?”
“That’s not what I said at all. We’re getting you some help.” Scrooge repeated himself.
“I don’t want—.”
“Instead of getting help, you decide to try to throw your life away?” He asked as he leaned forward on his desk.
“No—yes—I mean…” [Y/N] stuttered. “I don’t think I thought you cared about me. You’re not the greatest at… parenting. But I was never your child to begin with, I was just another problem you picked up along the way.
Scrooge looked down at his hands. “A problem, yes, but you’re my problem, [Y/N]. Whether you like it or not, you’re a part of my family and I will do everything for my family. I will spare no expense on keeping my family alive and well.”
“I still don’t want help.” [Y/N] said.
“I will raise your allowance if you take the help.” Scrooge said. “And I won’t complain about your coffee habit.”
[Y/N] thought for a moment. “Don’t tell the children either. I don’t want them asking me questions the way they do with Donald’s anger management.”
“Deal.”
“And I want to use karate as a cover up since that’s something I did in my youth and the children don’t know about it. Easy lie.” [Y/N] smiled sadly.
Scrooge furrowed his eyebrows. “You took karate?”
“I wanted to take ballet, but the karate studio was the only place that would take an orphan.” [Y/N] chuckled.
“That explains so much about you.” Scrooge chuckled along. “No more adding anything to our deal.”
“Fine.”
Scrooge smiled. “That’s the first time you’ve laughed in months.”
“Don’t ruin it.” [Y/N] smiled. “Thanks, dad.”