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The sun was slowly setting below the horizon. Gentle waves rippled across the lake. Rusty leaves swirled in the evening breeze before settling over the water, and drifting away.
It was… peaceful. Multi rarely got to enjoy things like this.
The soft rustle of feathers sounded beside him.
“Before I go,” Quackity broke the silence that had stretched for far too long, or maybe… too short. “Just so you know, I asked them to… I asked them to leave you alone.” He glanced at the scientist for a moment before lowering his gaze, almost unsure whether to continue. “Told them you’re off-limits.”
Multi shifted, his stomach twisting in an unpleasant way. The crisp evening air suddenly became suffocating, not filling his lungs fully.
“Yeah, I saw the message you left me.” He pressed his lips into a thin line. “Why me…? Of all people?”
Quackity let out a soft chuckle and shook his head, as if the answer should have been obvious.
“It wasn’t that hard to decide. You-” The avian looked up, their eyes meeting. “You gave me one last glimmer of hope.”
“How so?”
Multi ignored the way his pulse quickened, unable to tear his gaze away from the brown irises that seemed deeper than the lake in front of them.
“You gave me hope that maybe I’ll be able to see it come crashing down all the way from the top.”
“Are you sure it’s not a trap?” the scientist asked, alarms blasting in his head. “That they’re not trying to trick you somehow?”
Quackity drew his eyebrows together, pausing for a moment. Something in his eyes shifted as he tilted his head incredulously.
“Are we going to keep having the same conversation over and over…?”
“What-” Multi’s breath hitched.
His body went stiff. Alex was staring at him like always, but… different at the same time. Like he was seeing him. Right in this moment.
Which was impossible.
“We’ve done this so many times now. You know what I’m gonna say, and I know what you’re gonna reply.” The avian rested his face in the palm of his hand. A small, gentle smile ghosted across his lips. “Say something new.”
Multi sat silently, blinking.
This had never happened before. This shouldn’t happen. It was against every known law and logic. Was he finally losing his sanity? Was Ewron right all along?
“I…” he stammered, suddenly afraid that any sound might shatter whatever he was seeing right now. “Like what?”
There were so many things he never got to say. Most of them were buried so deep that he didn’t even want to acknowledge them, hoping that if ignored long enough, they would eventually disappear.
“For example,” the avian sent him a cheeky grin, his eyes drifting to the lapel of Multi’s lab coat, “why do you have my feather in your breast pocket?”
The scientist froze, his gaze dropping instantly. How did Alex even know that?
“You…” His throat felt painfully dry as his hand lifted instinctively to his coat. “You left it behind before you…” he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
“Ah, yeah.” Quackity scratched the back of his neck, a sad smile ghosting across his lips. “I always shed feathers when I was nervous.”
Was. Past tense. So he truly was going insane.
Multi let out a breathy laugh that was supposed to sound relieved, but he felt incredibly heavy. His mind and body – everything seemed weighed down, forcing his eyes back toward the lake.
He took a deep breath, his chest brushing against the feather nestled inside his pocket with the exhale.
“Are you at least happy now?” he asked quietly, but when he lifted his gaze again, the other side of the bench was empty.
No brown eyes. No gentle smile. Not even a single feather this time…
“I never told you, but…” Multi lowered his head. “I’ve always really liked your wings…”
His words drifted through the air, only for the trees and the lake to hear.
ᛝ ᛝ ᛝ
Grief was not something he thought he would ever experience. He had already lost so much – patience, resources, time, trust… Those who betrayed him were as good as dead to him.
But Quackity was dead.
And that… That fact clung to him like a parasite, gnawing hungrily at his sanity. Everywhere he looked, he saw traces of Alex etched into every room in the reactor.
The avian had a tendency to disappear for long periods of time, but he always came back. So the thought that he would never step into the office again with another ridiculous story spilling from his lips, made the scientist nauseous.
Quackity was just a friend.
A friend who smiled at him when others averted their gaze. A friend who listened when others turned their backs. A friend who stayed when others left. A friend who… kissed him. Countless times. Who kept him company, sought him out, and reached for his hand whenever the world grew dark.
Quackity was more than a friend.
But he never got to hear that.
“...Multi? Man, are you alive?”
“Huh? What?” He flinched, nearly knocking over the notes from his desk. Blinking rapidly, he spotted a figure standing in the doorway. “Graf?”
“Damn, I thought you’d never snap out of it.”
With a bit of hesitation, his friend placed another folder on the already high stack of papers balancing on the edge of his desk.
“I brought you a weekly report, but I couldn’t get much information on Foolish whereabouts or-” He paused, eyes narrowing as they regarded the scientist carefully. “Your coat looks awful. When was the last time you washed it?”
Multi frowned and glanced down. The white fabric wasn’t as white as it should have been, stained with radioactive waste and ash. The right sleeve was slightly burnt.
“I don’t remember.”
Three weeks ago.
It was pristine when he first sat on that bench.
“You don’t look very presentable,” Graf hummed with worry and walked toward the bedroom door at the back of the office. “Don’t you have like a hundred of those coats in here-”
“Don’t.” The scientist stopped him, a tinge of panic slipping into his voice before he cleared his throat awkwardly. “I don’t use that room anymore.”
“What? Why?” Graf asked, his hand hovering above the doorknob.
“I just don’t.”
“So where do you sleep?”
“Here, on the sofa.” He shrugged, looking away. “I never actually slept there anyway.”
Quackity did.
He always got tired first when he kept Multi company during late nights filled with research. There was an extra pair of slippers by the bed, and an additional set of pillows. Inside the closet hung a navy blue hoodie.
If he focused hard enough, he could almost hear the avian sleeping soundly behind that door. And as long as the room remained closed, the image stayed intact.
“On my way here, I was stopped by the Federation worker asking about you,” Graf thankfully changed the topic, stepping away from the door. “Do you still plan on working with them after…?”
“It’s a necessary step.”
The Federation had been more persistent than ever – from flooding his communicator with countless messages, to sending the workers to look for him. But he made them all kiss the doorknob.
He was aware Quackity had made his own choice, and no matter how hard he might have tried, he wouldn’t have been able to change the avian’s mind. But still…
Looking Cucurucho in the eyes now and continuing working with him, while knowing he had been the cause of it all – of all tragedy – was making him sick. The plan to take over the Federation was still on the table, but Multi wasn’t sure if he was capable of seeing it through anymore.
So when another message came through on his watch, he almost immediately dismissed it.
Almost.
This one was from Cucurucho himself:
Come to the Research Facility. Important announcement.
“Kurwa…”
He couldn’t ignore it.
He had no choice. It was either proceeding with the plan and playing along until he gained the power he had always craved… or launching the missile sitting beneath the Polish Cave.
Fixing the collar of his lab coat, he left the reactor and made his way to the Federation Quarters. It was raining outside. He hated the rain – now, even more than ever.
After scanning his access card at the Research Facility, he was immediately greeted by the same posters as always. Smiley faces accompanied by cheerful slogans:
Your fulfillment is our fulfillment!
Happiness is the future!
Enjoy the island!
He had never really noticed just how obsessed the Federation was with satisfaction and joy until now. Unfortunately, he couldn’t dwell on this thought much longer, because he was soon approached by one of the workers.
“Welcome back, Doctor Multi.” The faceless officer nodded politely. “Your absence has exceeded the expected period, therefore you are required to complete an overdue Fulfillment Survey.”
Every Federation member was obligated to participate in those monthly checkups. He was no exception. Without protest, he followed the worker into a familiar white room. Behind a small table sat one of the few administrators who possessed a higher rank, and… a face – the Validator.
“Good morning, Doctor Multi.” She gestured toward the chair opposite to her. “It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen each other,” she hummed, flipping through her notes. “May I know the reason for your absence?”
The scientist wanted to scoff in her face, but couldn’t. Every reaction, every tiniest twitch of his face was being watched. Not only by the Validator, but also by dozens of cameras hidden within the walls.
“I was busy with personal matters.”
She tilted her head at his response, but her eyes revealed little. Eerie black, almost empty, just like Cucurucho’s. Even with a face, she still looked uncannily inhuman. Too smooth, too calculated.
Not prying further, she reached for a set of diodes hidden under the table and attached them to Multi’s wrists. Then she pulled out a small monitor that showed his vitals, and began going through the usual series of questions.
“Are you satisfied with your life on the island?”
This damned island is doomed.
“Yes.”
“Are you maintaining a balanced lifestyle?”
I won’t sleep until the missile is ready and the Federation is choking beneath my feet.
“Yes.”
“Do you experience stress in your work or personal life?”
I feel empty inside.
“No.”
“Do you feel anger or resentment toward the Federation or any of its workers?”
I’ll make everyone who pushed Quackity to the edge pay.
“No.”
Muscles relaxed, not a single suspicious twitch in the eyes, hands resting loosely on the table, gaze focused, heartbeat steady. The Validator observed him carefully, glancing at the results on the monitor.
“Your vitals are concerning. It seems you haven’t been getting enough sleep,” she said, lacing her fingers under her chin, eyes faintly narrowing. “The timbre of your voice is also lower by two and a half decibels.” A pause. “How has your mood been lately?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” he answered without missing a beat.
The Validator assessed him with a piercing gaze, quietly filling in the report for Cucurucho.
“Remember to take care of your sense of fulfillment, Doctor Multi,” she instructed with a practised manner, but the warning in her tone was impossible to ignore, “because your condition is growing concerning, and-”
“All personnel are asked to come to the conference hall,” Cucurucho’s emotionless voice announced through the speakers.
Multi’s eyebrows twitched as he slowly raised from his chair. The Validator unhooked him from the monitor and followed suit. She looked like she wanted to say something more, but he couldn’t care less.
He exited the room and headed to the conference hall with the rest of the faceless crowd, not really knowing what to expect.
Cucurucho was already there, standing tall on an elevated platform. His pristine white suit blended with the walls and floors, making him appear like a phantom. Which, in a way, he was – a haunting shadow looming over the island.
And Multi stood in that shadow. Patiently waiting for his turn.
“As you all know, this island is standing on the verge of war,” Cucurucho began, straight to the point. “The Dark Federation is making bolder moves. Their influence expands and, as you all know, there was an attempted assasination a few weeks ago.”
Three weeks ago.
“We need to identify all islanders who have been recruited into their ranks. Identify and detain. Eliminate as a last resort,” he ordered, clasping his hands behind his back. “And for that, we’ve decided to appoint a special rank.”
Cucurucho’s eyes settled on someone in the crowd.
A wave of curious murmurs echoed through the room, as the workers stepped aside, making way. Multi automatically turned around with the rest of them.
And just then – yellow feathers brushed against his arm. The figure walked past, without even sparing him a glance.
His heart stopped.
Dark hair, curling above the shoulders. The same height. The same wings. The same cheeky smile. Even the tiny moles scattered across his face.
No.
No, no, no.
That was impossible.
He held his breath, watching the avian step onto the platform in slow motion.
“El Quackity is now the Federation Inspector,” Cucurucho announced officially. “He will infiltrate and oversee the overall satisfaction of the islanders, looking for potential rebels. As Quackity’s twin, he will take his place and gather information without raising suspicion. His real identity is strictly confidential, so…”
Multi didn’t hear the rest.
His ears were ringing, pulse thrumming against his temples, making everything around disappear. His eyes remained fixed on the winged figure standing next to Cucurucho, not daring to blink.
Was that a fucking joke? Was his mind playing tricks again? No… it wasn’t. Everyone else could see him too. It was real. Undeniably real.
He could barely breathe.
The announcement came to an end. Cucurucho dismissed the workers, and the crowd began to disperse. People brushed past him, but Multi didn’t move. His gaze was glued to El Quackity.
The avian stepped down from the platform.
Their eyes met above the crowd.
His knees almost buckled.
Something unreadable flickered in El Quackity’s irises before he turned and disappeared around the corner. Multi followed instantly. He didn’t hesitate. Didn’t question it. The avian walked into one of the deserted corridors. His back was turned to him, those golden wings taking all space and focus, mocking his sanity.
In a few quick strides, Multi closed the distance. He grabbed the avian by the collar of his sweater, and shoved him against the wall.
“Wow, at least take me to dinner first.”
The same voice.
“You,” Multi breathed heavily. His fingers trembled as they tightened around the fabric. “Who the fuck are you?!”
Up close, the resemblance was even worse. Too much like him. And not enough at the same time.
And then he saw it. The eyes – they were different. The glint in them was darker, much more sinister and menacing than the joyful sparks he had grown to-
“I was wondering how long it’s going to take until we meet.” The avian smirked knowingly, not bothered in the slightest by the situation. “You took your sweet time, Doctor Multi.”
“You-” He struggled to form any coherent thought. “You look like him.”
“Duh, I’m his twin.” El Quackity raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you listen to Big Bear?”
They stared each other down. Multi’s grip tightened, fingers digging deeper into the fabric, brushing against the skin of the avian’s neck. Warm and undoubtedly alive.
“Oh.” El Quackity huffed as the realization settled in his gaze. “Quack didn’t tell you about me.” A pitiful smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Of course, he didn’t. He was always so forgetful. So careless.”
Hearing him talk about Alex made the scientist’s stomach churn. It sounded blasphemous coming from someone wearing the exact same face.
“Is this some fucking joke?” Multi’s voice came out strained as he fought to regain composure. “What are you doing here? Why are you working with the Federation when your brother-”
“And why are you ?” The avian snarked back. “Aren’t you too noisy, doc?” His lips twisted into a mischievous smirk. “We’ve only just met. Take me on a date first.”
“What the fuck-”
“What? I know what you and Quacky had going on.” His grin only widened, something sinister glinting in his eyes. “After all, it was your name he called in his last-”
Multi shoved him harder against the wall. El Quackity’s head hit the white concrete with a dull thud, his wings ruffling from impact. And he just laughed. Didn’t struggle or try to break free. He simply let himself be manhandled, clearly taking some twisted pleasure in the anger directed at him.
“Keep his name out of your fucking mouth,” the scientist snarled, breathing growing laboured.
“Or what? You won’t hurt me,” he said with infuriating confidence.
A hideous feeling bloomed in Multi’s chest. He wanted to prove him wrong. He needed to.
“Come on, doc.” El Quackity clicked his tongue and trailed his hands slowly up the scientist’s arm. “No need to be so aggressive.”
“You don’t want me to get aggressive,” he growled, catching the avian’s wrist before he could reach his face.
“And what if I do?”
Everything he said was infuriating.
His existence was infuriating.
Multi’s hands itched to draw blood. To bash his head against that wall. To rip his wings out of his back, together with the skin. To mutilate his face until it became unrecognizable and-
It was all too much.
His grip loosened.
“Stay the fuck away from me,” was the only thing he could spat out.
He let go of the avian as if the touch burned him. Not waiting for another blood-boiling remark, he spun on his heel and headed out of the facility without looking back.
He needed air.
His heart pounded wildly against his ribs, lungs stuttering with every breath. Even something as simple as walking suddenly felt incredibly difficult.
A twin brother… That was even worse than a clone.
For three weeks, Multi had been trying to silence thoughts that kept him awake at night. Three weeks spent dwelling on countless what ifs that could have saved Quackity from his doom.
Only to see his face again… wearing a different name.
He hadn’t even realized where his legs had taken him until he heard the soft hum of waves of the lake.
“Hey…”
A gentle voice pulled him back to reality – or maybe further away from it.
This time, they didn’t reenact their last conversation when Multi sat on the bench, scooting closer than he usually did.
Something warm brushed against his hand. The avian’s fingers hesitantly wrapped around his, sending shivers down his spine.
“Multi… why do you keep coming back here?”
A shuddered sigh slipped past his lips as he lowered his gaze.
“There’s so much shit going on on the island. The war is coming, and…”
He couldn’t even bring himself to mention El Quackity, feeling as though the name was cursed.
He looked back at Alex. Golden hour painted his skin honey, warm light catching on his wings. The scientist roamed his gaze over the avian’s features, desperately trying to erase the memory of those same eyes staring at him with twisted mockery.
“I don’t really have any photos of you. No footage from the cameras left after the monthly data clear. Never knew I’d have to keep those…”
He grimaced with a sigh, scolding himself for not thinking about it sooner.
“Here’s the last place I saw you, and…” His throat tightened around the words as he felt the corners of his eyes prickle. “I don’t want to forget your face.”
The real face. The only one I ever wanna see.
Quackity sent him a sad smile, squeezing his hand gently.
“Eventually, you will.”
“No, you don’t understand.” Multi shook his head frantically, running his other hand through his hair. “I just saw your face, but- but it wasn’t yours and-”
“Oh.” Quackity stiffened, his wings bristling with unease. “So you’ve met him.”
All the warmth left his eyes, replaced by something too complicated to decipher.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had a brother?” the scientist asked quietly.
Alex averted his gaze.
“I never thought he’d come back,” he admitted, closing his eyes for a second. “I… I don’t wanna talk about him.”
Multi opened his mouth, but when he saw the unmistakable sadness in Quackity’s eyes, he stopped himself. A hollow feeling spread through his body, as though something had been stolen from him. He couldn’t tell what, but he just knew it was gone.
“I…” He broke the silence, his voice softening. “I was never really mad when you barged into the reactor unannounced, you know?” He let out a quiet snort under his breath. “In fact, I kind of anticipated it…”
Quackity’s eyes lit up slightly, a small smile slowly made its way back onto his face.
“Yeah?”
The scientist hummed and squeezed the avian’s hand, but it was no longer there. As he looked up, he was alone once again.
“I miss it…”
ᛝ ᛝ ᛝ
As much as he despised Ewron for his constant scheming and changing sides whenever the wind blew the other way, he had to admit – he envied his ability to act. Multi had always prided himself on being unreadable, but after the recent Fulfillment Survey, he had noticed other workers watching him more closely than before.
He had to be careful.
Therefore, he had spent the last few days at the Federation Facility, working on improving the chips. Keeping his head down, giving them nothing to report.
He was just about to finish another batch of samples when, suddenly, he felt a familiar weight settle on his shoulder.
Warm, comfortably familiar… So right.
Quackity must have been bored again and came to bother him while he worked. Without really thinking, Multi leaned into the touch, his body instinctively melting, tension leaving his muscles.
And then he remembered where he was.
He spun around so quickly his chair scraped against the floor.
“Ah, just when I was getting comfortable.” El Quackity pouted, feigning disappointment. “You’re no fun, doc.”
The mere sight of him made Multi’s blood boil, yet he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
“I told you to stay away from me,” he spat harshly, raising from the chair.
The avian shook his head, scoffing as his gaze traveled slowly from the scientist’s face to his hands and back again.
“So much tension and pent-up emotions.” His lips curled into a knowing smile. “You may seem unreadable to others, but to me…” He raised an eyebrow and tapped an index finger against his own face. “To those eyes? You’re an open book.”
“What sick games are you playing?” he hissed quietly, eyes flicking briefly to the camera above the door.
“Me?” El Quackity placed a hand over his chest, looking almost offended. “All kinds of games. Isn’t life the biggest game?” He tilted his head curiously. “I’m just interested in interesting people.”
“And I’m one of those people?” Multi frowned.
He had no idea what the avian was trying to achieve. He wanted him gone – out of his sight, out of this room, out of his life. But he couldn't simply use violence. Not here. One wrong move and all his plans would go down the drain.
“Oh, you have no idea.” El Quackity chuckled. “You’re an islander working with the Federation.”
He took a step closer.
“A skilful scientist, from what I’ve heard, that even Big Bear respects.”
Another step.
“And a whole snack at that.”
“What-”
“What can I say?” The avian grinned, baring his teeth. “Taking intelligent people apart has always been such a delightful challenge for me.”
“I won’t be a part of your-“
“In case you forgot, I’ve been appointed as the Federation Inspector. I’m supposed to infiltrate every person on this island.” He was close enough now that the scientist could feel the warmth radiating from his body. “Including you.”
El Quackity placed one hand on the edge of the desk, right beside Multi’s hip, effectively cutting off one direction of escape.
“So why won’t you give me a tour around your reactor?” He lowered his voice, his other hand coming to rest on the opposite side. “Show me every room…” He leaned closer. “Every file…” His shoulder brushed against Multi’s. “Every little secret.”
“I…” Breath caught in the scientist’s throat.
His body was reacting before his mind could stop it. Every instinct screamed at him to push El Quackity away. But it was hard when he could see the face he had missed so desperately. Hear the voice he’d recognize anywhere. Feel the body he knew far better than his own…
It was wrong. So fucking wrong.
And yet some traitorous part of him wanted to stay exactly where he was. For one horrible second, he imagined it was Alex standing in front of him.
El Quackity noticed immediately. His smile softened into something almost predatory as he leaned even closer. His breath fanned across Multi’s skin.
“Yeah?” he murmured as his hand traced the edge of his lab coat. “Don’t you wanna know how it tastes one more time?”
The scientist drew a sharp breath. His eyes dropped to the avian’s fingers that hovered dangerously close to his breast pocket.
“Don’t.”
El Quackity followed his gaze. The yellow feather peeked from beneath the white fabric.
“Oh?” he mused, fingertips already dipping lower.
Multi yanked his wrist, pulling it away harshly.
“Don’t touch that.”
The avian’s smile shifted into something unreadable.
“So that’s where you keep him.”
“Get out.”
The scientist clenched his jaw and finally pushed him away. El Quackity stumbled backwards. His golden wings fluttered as he regained balance, straightening his sweater as if nothing had happened.
Multi stared at him, breathing hard through the nose.
“Think about my offer, doc,” the avian said with a cheeky smile before turning to the door.
“Out.”
“See you around,” he snorted and stepped outside.
Only when the door clicked shut, Multi let his shoulders drop. The laboratory drowned in suffocating silence. With trembling fingers he slowly reached into his pocket, brushing them against the soft feather.
ᛝ ᛝ ᛝ
“Are you satisfied with your life on the island?”
He stared blankly at the table.
“Yes.”
“Are you maintaining a balanced lifestyle?”
Every time he closed his eyes, the image of El Quackity smirking at him kept plaguing his mind like a disease.
“Yes.”
“Do you experience stress in your work field or personal life?”
The white walls felt trapping. That damned avian was probably lurking somewhere in the facility – maybe even listening to this survey.
“No.”
“Do you feel anger or resentment toward the Federation or any of its workers?”
He faltered.
A second too long.
“I can repeat.” The Validator’s voice remained neutral, but her gaze immediately sharpened. “Do you feel anger or-”
“No.” This time, he didn't miss the beat. He snapped back to focus, meeting her eyes. “Has El Quackity always worked with the Federation?”
The Validator leaned back, visibly caught off guard by the question. Her elegantly plucked eyebrows drew together in confusion.
“Why do you require this information?”
Multi crossed his arms, the cables of the diodes stretching with the movement. The results on the monitor probably spiked the moment he spoke, but he couldn’t care less.
“He appeared out of nowhere,” he answered truthfully. “I tend to research my coworkers. Especially if one of them happens to be the twin brother of a former enemy of the Federation.” The words tasted vile on his tongue.
“Well…” The Validator hesitated. “As far as I’m aware, El Quackity was already a member of the Federation during our project on the previous island.”
The previous island.
Alex had once told him about his memories from that place, suggesting there were more of them. That meant El Quackity might possess information Multi needed to proceed with his plans.
Unfortunately.
“We’ve strayed from the topic, Doctor Multi.” The Validator tapped her fingers against the monitor. “Your vitals haven't improved since the last survey. Based on the timbre of your voice, posture, and overall physiological response, I’m inclined to believe your answers regarding your level of fulfillment aren’t entirely accurate.”
Multi remained silent.
The Validator studied him for another moment, but he gave her nothing, so eventually she sighed and removed the diodes from his wrists.
“You may go.”
He stood without another word.
ᛝ ᛝ ᛝ
He got back to the reactor absolutely drained. With each passing day, it was becoming more difficult to maintain composure. If he didn’t get a grip soon, it was a matter of time before Cucurucho started suspecting him.
He couldn’t afford that.
Walking through the decontamination chamber, he headed straight to his office, millions thoughts racing in his mind. But the second he stepped inside, they all stopped.
Someone was standing next to his desk.
Golden wings were folded loosely behind a familiar figure, dark hair curling above his shoulders. El Quackity looked around the place with visible interest.
“How did you get in here?”
The avian turned to him, eyes litting up with barely concealed amusement.
“The security system recognized me as someone trusted, so I let myself in.”
The scientist cursed under his breath. He had forgotten about that.
“I’ve seen the results of your latest survey. Are you perhaps sad, Doctor Multi?” El Quackity continued, cooing with exaggerated sweetness. “You know how the Federation treats sadness and anger, don’t you?”
Multi said nothing. That sneaky bastard knew far too much. Getting under his skin far too easily, far too-
“What?” The avian leaned against the desk, fingers brushing idly over the surface. “Cat got your tongue?”
“Get out of my office. You…” He swallowed.
It was hard to look at him and not hard at all at the same time. He even slouched the same lazy, nonchalant way.
It was like Quackity was still-
“Missing him, aren’t you?” El Quackity smirked, watching him carefully. “Curious, what my brother had that made you so…”
“Shut it.”
“Infatuated.”
Multi stepped closer, his hands curling into fists, ready to throw a punch-
But couldn’t.
Not when it was his face. His eyes. His mouth.
“Was it the looks?” the avian mused unfazed, twirling a strand of hair around his finger. “Or maybe the way he talked? Silly, but caring. You probably liked that, didn’t you?” He snickered. “He was a charmer, after all.”
Here, far away from the Federation cameras, the scientist could do whatever he pleased. He could wipe that smirk off the avian’s face once and for all. And yet, he remained frozen.
“You may be that big, scary scientist everyone fears.” El Quackity looked him up and down, satisfaction written all over his features. “But your heart is weak.”
He closed the distance and stepped into Multi’s space, one hand coming up to absentmindedly fix the collar of his lab coat.
“Pliable,” he lowered his voice to a whisper, leaning closer, his breath brushing against the scientist’s face. “Fragile.”
“Stop-”
“We both know you want it.” The avian grinned, his teeth catching briefly on his lower lip. “It’s the closest thing you’ll get to filling that void.”
Multi’s heart hammered between his ribs, head spinning as his mind was torn into pieces.
It wasn’t Quackity.
Quackity was gone.
Forever.
“If you want it, just take it, Multi,” a sweet murmur reached his ears.
And he broke.
Before he even realized what he was doing, before he could even stop himself, he was grabbing El Quackity by the back of his neck and crashing their mouths together.
Their lips parted with shaky sighs, slotting perfectly as if they were made for each other.
Just like his and Quackity’s were…
The thought hit him like a brick, almost making him pull away and snap out of this madness. But then an urgent hand slipped into his hair, yanking him closer, not letting him get away.
“Having second thoughts?” The avian grinned crookedly against his lips. “Too late for that now.”
Without breaking the kiss, El Quackity took a step forward, then another, and another, until Multi’s back hit the wall. The scientist had barely time to react before he felt a knee slid in between his thighs.
He let out an involuntary groan. Their lips parted for a split second, but the avian was already diving back in, stealing another searing kiss from him.
Every touch felt bruising. The heat dug deep into the scientist’s body, twisting his insides. His skin was crawling just as much as it was yearning for more. The slide of their tongues, each exchanged breath, each broken sound spilling between them felt so wrong…
So wrong… but so, so disgustingly good.
Fuck.
He had to regain control. He had to put that fucker in his place. He had to show him who was in charge here.
Multi wrapped his hands around El Quackity’s waist, fingers sliding upward, finding the base of his wings. The avian immediately tensed, body arching into the scientist as a rough groan escaped his lips.
“Fuck-“
“Good to know, you’re just as sensitive,” Multi snarked, taking a twisted satisfaction in the shock that flashed across the other’s face.
Using the momentary advantage, he pushed himself away from the wall and forced El Quackity backwards. The avian struggled to regain balance, but Multi only pushed him harder, until he hit the desk, sprawling across the surface. His wings knocked stacks of papers onto the floor.
“You think you have me all figured out, don’t you?” Multi said hoarsely and braced his hands on either side of the avian’s hips, towering over him. “Think you can toy with me…”
El Quackity sucked in a sharp breath. Even cornered, he still had that wild fierceness burning in his eyes. Fighting. Defying. Challenging him to go further.
“Well, let me show you,” the scientist whispered into his ear, lips grazing the delicate feathers, “the consequences of your actions.”
He pinned El Quackity’s wrists to the desk, while his other hand slipped beneath the fabric of his sweater. The avian arched his back with a breathy moan as Multi’s touch wandered up his body.
He needed to get closer. To get under his skin. To tear his heart out of his chest just to see if it beat the same as Quackity's did.
His finger kept moving. Higher and higher. Until they closed around the pulsing throat, cutting off air, squeezing hard-
“Did-” El Quackity choked out. “Did he also like it rough?” A sick smile creeped into his flushed face. “Did you also treat him like this?”
The world stopped.
He blinked through the daze. His hands, the body beneath them, the scattered papers, the familiar face staring back at him. Not Quackity. It had never been Quackity.
What the fuck was he doing?
This should have never happened. This- This was madness. He had let El Quackity get inside his head, and lost all control.
But god… For a moment – for one fucking moment – he had enjoyed it.
His stomach lurched violently, as he quickly released the avian and stumbled back, panting. His hands were trembling uncontrollably.
“Get out,” he spat, out of breath.
He couldn’t even bear to look at El Quackity. Couldn’t bear to see the traces of his defeat littering his skin and lips.
“Multi-”
“Get. Out.” His voice cracked.
The avian opened his mouth, but the scientist didn’t give him a chance to speak. He grabbed him by the arm and dragged him toward the door.
“You don’t get to do this,” Multi seethed, shoving him outside. “You don’t get to wear his face and-”
He couldn’t finish and slammed the door behind El Quackity’s stumbling form.
For a long moment, the scientist just stood in the middle of the trashed office, chest heaving, staring at the mess around him.
Without thinking, he grabbed the nearest object and threw it against the wall. A sharp crack echoed through the empty room.
Then his legs gave out. He sank to the floor with his back against the door, hands still shaking. He pressed them to his face and squeezed his eyes shut, forcing down the disgusting bile stuck in his throat.
It wasn’t him.
He knew that…
So why didn’t he stop himself?
ᛝ ᛝ ᛝ
There were few things in life Multi truly hated – rain, Ewron, betrayal, and lack of knowledge. Being lost felt almost as bad as getting stabbed between the ribs. But despite not knowing why, he kept coming back to that bench.
Quackity was already there when he arrived at the lake. His golden wings glimmered beneath the orange glow of the setting sun, dark curls swaying in the evening breeze.
“You should stop coming back here, doc.”
Multi stopped dead. The avian turned his head. His stomach dropped.
“Get the fuck out of here.” The scientist rounded the bench, his fists clenching at his sides. “You can’t-”
“Quackity is gone.” El Quackity’s voice was unusually calm. He sat in his brother’s place, too comfortable than he had any right to be. “You need to come to terms with it. You can’t stay like this forever, doc.”
A wave of helpless fury surged through his veins. The avian’s presence contaminated this place – the last fragment of peace he had left.
“I know what you’re capable of. I’ve been observing you long before I was called to this island. You have potential to achieve great things. But not if you stay this…” El Quackity gestured vaguely at him with a disgusted grimace, “...depressed widower.”
“You know shit about me.”
Multi wanted nothing more than to throw the avian into the lake and hold him under the water until he drowned.
“I know you need closure.”
“One more word-”
“Say a proper goodbye.” The words made him stop mid-step. “Say what he never got to hear.”
El Quackity leaned back against the bench and silently patted the empty space beside him. Multi faltered and furrowed his eyebrows. A bitter laugh tore at his throat, but it never made it past his lips. This was ridiculous and-
A hand shot up and caught him by the coat, yanking him down onto the bench.
“Say it,” the avian pressed, not relenting for some reason.
“Fuck off.”
“Just pretend I’m him.” El Quackity rolled his eyes. “It’s not that hard, is it?”
“You’ll never be him,” the scientist snarled coldly.
“You need to say it.” The avian ignored the insult, remaining surprisingly calm. “Otherwise, it’ll eat you alive.”
Multi stared at him, searching his face for any sign of deceit, but found none. Understanding and compassion were the last things he expected to hear from him.
“Why do you care?”
“I don’t.” The avian shrugged. “The Federation does. And…” His voice wavered for a brief moment. “I think Quackity would’ve cared too.”
“And that matters to you?”
“He was my brother, after all.”
“You’re fucked up,” he scoffed, lowering his gaze to the gravel beneath the bench.
It was getting harder and harder to read that winged bastard. And the worst thing was that his words were starting to sound terrifyingly convincing. Tempting the scientist with logic he could no longer deny. And he was so tired…
“So are you. That’s why it’d be a shame if they eliminated you too soon.” El Quackity smirked knowingly and shifted to sit sideways, facing him. “So say it. Get it all out. Close your eyes, if that helps or-”
“You’ve ruined me.” The words slipped out before Multi could stop them.
He inhaled unevenly and as he looked up, El Quackity was gone.
In his place sat someone else. Warm, brown eyes gazed at him with tenderness. A pair of hands lifted to cradle his face.
“You…” A shuddered breath escaped him as he subconsciously leaned into the touch, his own hand rising to cover Quackity’s. “You were much more than family to me.” Confession after confession spilled from between the cracks he could no longer block or ignore. “There’s only one thing I regret not telling you.”
Alex smiled softly, his thumb brushing gently under Multi’s eye.
“I know.”
His heart hammered wildly against his ribs, frantic enough to hurt.
“I…”
Multi wanted to memorize everything – the warmth of Quackity’s skin, the softness of his voice, the shade of his eyes glimmering in the sunset. He made sure to catalogue every detail before he exhaled shakily and closed his eyes.
“I love you.”
The sun disappeared behind the tree line.
For a heartbeat, the only thing he could hear was the wind stirring the leaves. Soft and peaceful, and-
“There you go.”
Multi’s eyes snapped open. The hands cupping his face stayed, but the person sitting in front of him changed. Dark, cold irises stared at him with mild amusement.
His skin crawled.
“You’re a terrorist,” he hissed, but didn't move.
Something wicked flickered in El Quackity’s expression.
“Everyone is, to some extent.”
“Quackity wasn’t.”
“Oh, but he was.” The avian chuckled as his thumb stroked the scientist’s cheek. “And you’re his casualty.”
ᛝ ᛝ ᛝ
The reactor was dark. Only the green glow of the core in the middle caught the edges of the slouched silhouette dragging itself across the chamber.
For the first time in three weeks, his mind was silent.
He sank onto the couch in his office and fished the yellow feather out of his pocket. Tilting his head back, he brushed it gently against his lips and closed his eyes.
The bedroom door stood slightly ajar.