Chapter Text
Don doesn’t remember the last time he had a nightmare that kept him in a constant cold sweat.
Doesn’t remember the last time he had a nightmare that left his hands shaky and breath uneven.
Maybe it was when he got close with Katie and Ash, the resemblance of family he had craved since his mother abandoned him ridding him from them.
His mind was constantly playing flashes of Katie, Ash, Alex and Multi. Flashes that show them disappointed, scared, walking away as he begged for them to come back.
It was similar to the hallucination he saw during the fight against Aldo.
He doesn’t know where he is, just walking forward blankly in pitch black. Wherever he turned to look, another creation that made his heart ache painfully appeared.
Ash crying out, lost, alone, afraid.
Katie holding her stomach and whining about the pain and how hungry she was.
Alex getting hurt worse after having to defend him.
Multi getting sick of him and his siblings.
Everything he had been fearing since they arrived in New York. Since they had ran away.
He kept walking forward however, into the depths of darkness, trying his best to ignore everything.
Don awoke with a sensation of what felt like his skull splitting into two, lights so blinding and the smell of sanitizer thick in the air making him nauseous.
Or maybe it was the pain in his head.
The beeping of the machine beside him sounding like little bullets.
His sight was blurry as he gazed around the foreign room, landing on the sleeping form of somebody.
Alex.
He could tell it was Quackity with the beanie that covered his hair, and jumper that was one size too big and reached too far down – Multi’s.
“Fuck…” Don groaned, letting out a huff of pain as he tried to move around in the bed that kept him caged.
Something heavy settled in his head, as if weight was crushing down on him.
He reached a hand up to his face, shaky and weak. He felt at what was on his face- a bandage of some sorts on his nose. He lowered his hand and continued looking about.
At the clock on the wall, the door, the shut curtains. The foreign place.
He turned to look at Alex.
He stared at Quackity’s sleeping form with hooded eyes for a few moments before allowing them to shut.
He fell into another slumber, going back into the darkness that made his heart try to break out of his chest.
He woke up a few hours later, telling by the hands on the clock above the door.
Quackity was awake – he assumed -, the teen standing beside his bedside with his eyes shut and head hung low.
“Alex…?” His voice was more like a groan, head still pounding with each breath.
His friend perked up instantly. Quackity’s eyes opened quickly as he snapped to look at Don.
“Oh my gosh.” Alex’s eyes began watering, lips quivering.
“I thought you died, dude. What is your problem?” his voice was wet as he leaned over the railing that confined Don into the bed, hugging him to the best of his ability.
He sucked air in through his teeth at the feeling of something shifting inside of his chest.
“Ow-owowow-...” He whimpered, Quackity quickly pulling back.
“Sorry- wait no… You don’t get a sorry for how long it took for you to tap out.” Alex swiped at his eyes, wiping away his tears with his arms.
“You’re fucked, literally. You don’t need an- an abundance of money anymore… you have plenty.” He sniffled; Don watched him. He felt horrible, watching one of his best friend’s cry because he didn’t want to listen to him.
“Why- why would you continue? Do you know how scared Katie and Ash are…? They were so confused, Multi said, when we weren’t there.”
…
Oh god.
Don felt like he was choking at the mention of the two younger, heart clenching impossibly tight.
What if they thought he died?
What if they thought he left them – ran away and ditched them?
…
“Are they okay?” Don tried sitting up, despite the sharp pain in his chest and throbbing of his injuries. He only stopped his attempt of leaving once Alex rested a hand on his shoulder and slowly pushed him back down.
“They’re fine, Michał said they were on the way now. Hitching a ride with our neighbour.”
There was silence between them. Only the muffled sniffles from Alex and the pounding of his own heart in his ears.
It was broken after a few moments.
“…You know I’m not mad at you though, right?”
…
“Well- I am… but not mad mad. I’m just- scared.”
“I know.” Don whispered, tears sitting along his waterline.
“Do you know how scary it was? Hearing you say my name then- then collapse?”
“I thought you died, Don.”
“…I’m sorry.”
…
“Sorry doesn’t cut it- I don’t want to fight alongside you anymore.”
…
“What- Alex, you don’t get it.” His voice was sore as he spoke up, louder than previously.
“I need the money- Ash and Katie deserve a normal life…” he sounded like he was pleading.
“A normal life isn’t- isn’t getting beaten to unconsciousness. Get a job somewhere, other places will hire you without ID, surely.” Quackity held his bruised and banged up hand as he spoke.
“I don’t care if this was a one-time thing, what if it happens again and you don’t wake up?”
“What if Katie and Ash lose you because you’re- sacrificial or something?”
His hands began sweating at the implications.
“Don’t say that. Don’t say that in the same breath as their names.” He tried making his voice sound hard, but it came out wobbly and weak.
Because he was, clearly.
A weak teenager looking after his younger siblings.
Too weak to win.
He got a quiet, murmured ‘sorry’ before Alex began speaking up again.
“I’m serious, though. I don’t want you to fight in the reactor again- at least not solely. Get a day job, at the minimum, Don.” He let out a huff, he got plenty from fighting. He didn’t need a day job.
“Katie wonders why you fight so often, she hates seeing you blue all the time.”
“Don’t say that…”
“It’s true.” Quackity’s grip was tight on the rail of his bed.
Silence.
“Think about it, I’m going to the lobby to see if Multi and Katie are here.”
And with that, Alex left after a final rub of his eyes.
Don stared at the clock above the door after Quackity left.
A doctor came in a few minutes later, asking about pain levels, giving him higher meds, running through the small list of injuries he had.
Broken nose – he figured -, bruised ribs, strong concussion.
A few milder things, like being bruised blue, raw and scabbed knuckles.
He made up a lie as the doctor asked him what happened.
Responded yes or no to questions, claimed he got jumped in an alleyway on his way home.
His life was full of lying now.
Lying to the people he cared about.
Katie, Ash, Multi, Alex.
Lying to the law.
The doctor left with a talk of being back later.
He was alone now, in the hospital room.
He watched the clock. The hands ticking seconds, minutes, hours.
Alex was nowhere to be seen. Nor was Multi, Katie or Ash.
Surely, they would come back soon.
Surely.
Right?
He picked at his nails as he waited for them to return. Picked at the skin around them until it hurt and were bleeding.
Is this how they felt when he was gone the night?
Waiting for him, watching the door?
He brought his knees up to his chest despite the pain in his ribs.
His vision blurred with tears.
What if they wouldn’t come back?
What if he was stuck here?
This was awfully reminiscent.
Reminds him of a memory he tried burying.
“I’ll be back in a bit, I’m just going to the lobby to check out, Donny.” Her voice was soft as she spoke, her blue eyes- or were they green? - shining under the light. Everything else of her blurred.
“Alright, mum.” He smiled, a toothy grin as he sat on the bed.
He watched the door as she left, clicking shut behind her.
He waited, and waited, and waited.
She never returned.
Don sobbed into his knees despite the stabbing sensation with each jerk of his shoulders.
What if he was stuck alone again?
The door clicked open quietly, though the voices from behind were loud.
“I’m back, sorry we took so long. We went to get you food, must be hungry huh?”
Don looked up, face wet with tears.
Multi and Alex stood in the doorway, air awkward as they got a good look at the weeping teen.
Ash and Katie however, rushed forward and climbed onto the bed. Don wrapped his arms around the two despite the throbbing that encased his entire being.
They were talking to him, based on their moving mouths. He couldn’t hear them however, just his cries he tried to stifle as to not scare them. His tears felt endless – he doesn’t know why he was still crying, just that he couldn’t stop.
They didn’t seem to mind, holding onto Don tightly.
Alex and Multi did not mention his breakdown after it ended. They acted normal, like he was normal.
They offered him the food they bought, making sure he was comfortable. They chatted with Katie and Ash so they wouldn’t press into his bruised ribs and sore sides.
He doesn’t know if he likes that thought.
The thought he – and his life was normal.
None of it was.
He shouldn’t be feeding two extra mouths, fighting for a living. He shouldn’t be an orphan. He shouldn’t be grown at an age like this.
“You good, bro?”
Don snapped back to attention at the sound of Quackity’s voice.
“Yeah, I’m good.” He cleared his throat and went back to eating as if nothing happened.
The food tasted like nothing, and he knew his friends could tell he was lying. He kept eating however, staring blankly at the blankets that covered his legs. Katie and Ash sat near his feet, eating and chatting routinely with everyone in the room.
“You have to sign yourself out soon, the Federation will cover your costs.”
…
“Right.”
A few moments pass, atmosphere semi-tense.
“Are you still going to dye our hair, Don?” Katie asked quietly, food on the edge of her mouth. Ash perked up beside her, also somewhat eager to know if he would still help dye their hair.
Don let out a snort and nodded, a small smile on his face.
“Yeah, might have to wait a while until everything is all good though.”
Katie let out a quiet squeal and crawled up to hug Don, Ash following quickly after. He let out a huff of pain as she jabbed her elbow into his side but still wrapped his arms around the two. His food discarded to the side.
“I love you, Don.”
“Me too! I love you, Don!”
“Love you both, very much.”
The process to leaving a hospital is much harder than he expected, having to sign a bunch of sheets without giving up he was a runaway was proving to be difficult.
He put most details regarding him under the Federation or Multi’s name – with permission.
His body ached as he leaned against Alex, the worker behind the counter finally finalizing his documents.
“Finally…” He sighed and shifted feet. His knees cracked – he felt as if he were already far along in adulthood.
His eyes felt heavy and he knew the bags under his eyes were noticeable – they have been for the past few days. His tiredness etched deeply into his face.
The group left all together, Ash and Katie’s hands in his, with Multi and Alex holding each other’s.
The walk to the bus stop was quiet, nobody having something worth talking about – not even the kids.
The ride back was in silence, Don let himself nod of onto Multi’s shoulder.
Life felt slower nowadays, like the hours were dragging on longer and the pain he felt only getting worse with each passing day.
He regrets a lot, he realises.
He regrets getting close with Katie and Ash, not because he doesn’t like them – far from it. He regrets taking them from the resemblance of normal life they could have had if he had just… left to the new orphanage. Regrets how they could have gotten adopted; had a loving family by now instead of being stuck with a bunch of teenagers.
He knows they don’t care about the things he does - that they are happier than ever with him, Multi and Alex.
But what if they weren’t? what if they weren’t and he just ruined their lives forever.
“What do you want for dinner?” Alex rubbed at his stomach.
“Not very hungry, get Katie and Ash whatever they’d like.” Don murmured, rubbing his fist against his eye. He reached deep into the pockets of his pants and pulled out his wallet – thick leather, one of the only things he bought to treat himself. He gave it to Alex with a ‘get whatever, on me.’
“Uh, I’m probably going to head back to the apartment. I feel dirty, I want to shower.” He stared at the sidewalk in front of him, kicking a rock.
“I’ll come, don’t want you to slip and die.” Alex let out a huff at Multi’s attempt of humour. “I’m not very hungry anyways.”
Don gave a nod, still staring down at the concrete.
He and Multi departed after he conversed with Alex about making sure the kids were always with him. His spew of parental-concern dragging a few annoyed ‘yes’ and ‘I know’s’ from Quackity.
He only left after Multi gave him a tug of his arm to get him moving.
The walk to the apartment was quiet, not awkward. Just the sound of their footsteps against the solid ground, and the chatter that came from living in New York.
Getting up the stairs were hard, each lift of his leg and rising of his body making his ribs ache. Multi stayed behind him – despite Don’s protests – with a hand on his back to make sure he wouldn’t fall backwards.
When they finally made it up, Schlatt was just leaving, locking up his door.
It was awkward – Multi going over to thank the man again.
He heard vague chatters of Schlatt saying he didn’t need to say anything and just let it go – the teen trying his best to seem sincere despite his natural monotone and careless tone.
“Your friend okay at least? Would be a shame if I took you there just for him to be dead.” His voice was semi-rough from smoking, Don assumed.
Multi stepped to the side, revealing him at the stairway still leaning against the wall.
Don felt a little self-conscious, watching the way Schlatt’s brows raise and how his eyes take in all the bruises and scrapes on him.
“Righto- well banged up then.” Don gave an awkward smile at the man.
Schlatt let out a huff before muttering about going to the bar and leaving the two.
Don let out a breath at finally entering the apartment again, walking to his room with a yawn.
He really just wanted to shower then go to sleep.
The shower was nice-ish, the warmth of the water soothing the pain in his joints yet irritating his raw hands and parts of skin.
He avoided looking in the mirror like the plague, not wanting to see the bruises that littered his body. He didn’t want to see his ruined face bandaged and bruised.
Showering without getting his head wet like normal was annoying, having to avoid the water so he didn’t soak the bandage and stabilisers that kept his nose in place. He hated the thought of his nose having a chance of being permanently disformed because of it being broken – especially at this age.
He let the water run hot, burning his skin red and irritating it beyond what it was before. He only stopped and got out of the shower once Multi knocked on the door to check up on him.
Looking in the mirror was inevitable, his clothes being hung over the edge of the sink.
He looked… disgusting, in his eyes.
His eye was puffy with a bruise, his jaw a purplely-yellow. He grimaced, under the bandage, he could tell his nose was discoloured into a purple and the bags under his eyes making him look like a panda.
He hated it.
This is how he looked in the orphanage.
He hated it.
He finally managed to draw his eyes from the stranger that stared back in the reflection, changing into his pyjama’s.
His bed was comfortable under him, Yoko curled up on his stomach as he laid on his back.
The dog was happy to see him, jumping up and pawing at his leg at the sight of Don when she first saw him. He kept a hand on her, staring up at the roof of the dark room.
He wondered how his life would be if he decided to transfer to the post-teen unit instead of escaping.
He’d probably be miserable, more than he is now, he decided.
If he weren’t with Katie and Ash he doesn’t know what he’d do.
He doesn’t know if he’d still be here, if he is being honest.
He stared at the ceiling until he heard the front door open, the chatter of Katie’s voice lulling him slightly. It was soothing to know Ash and her were home.
He heard the TV click on and the group chatting as they ate.
He slowly allowed his eyes to shut to the noise of the group.
He prayed that his slumber would not be plagued by night terrors.
He was never a lucky boy.
Don spent most of the month healing, going back and forth to the hospital for pain meds and checkups. His nose was ‘healing good’, they said.
Most of his bruises had turned a yellowy-green, they took longer to heal than expected, but Aldo’s fists did feel like rocks smashing into his face so he wasn’t too surprised.
His days were repetitive. Wake up, brush teeth, eat, take meds, rest, play with Katie and Ash, eat, shower, sleep. It was constant and annoying. He couldn’t even expect to go back to fighting afterwards.
He and Quackity got into lots of arguments surrounding the topic of him fighting once he was better.
Quackity didn’t get it.
Didn’t get worrying about feeding two other mouths.
Didn’t get sick at the thought of running out of money because he had Multi to fall back on.
He had no backup, no fall back.
He did, Multi and Alex were right there.
The fights always ended up with Don storming to their room and locking himself inside.
They always made up, not wanting to be a bad example for Ash and Katie.
He felt like he was always stressed or mad. He knew everyone could tell.
He didn’t like that Katie seemed like she was walking on eggshells around him.
Was she scared he’d get into an argument with her too?
He always reassured her when they hung out together, saying he could never be mad at her. She always responded with ‘I know’ but it always seemed forced. He didn’t like how distant she was getting after his hospital trip.
He knew she was scared.
“I don’t want you to fight anymore.” Was something she said, late at night. It was right after a large argument with Alex about the Reactor again. Her voice was small and timid as if he’d lash out at her the same he did with Quackity over dinner.
“…”
“…Okay. I won’t.”
It was laughable, really. How quick he agreed to not fight for Katie, but how easy it was to fight with Quackity for suggesting the same thing.
He would always put her and Ash first.
He swore his life on that.
“Ashswag, you got to be still, or the lines won’t be straight.” He laughed as the boy wiggled around on the kitchen stool they dragged into the bathroom.
“We need to wait a few moments, so the bleach actually bleaches your hair, man.” Ash groaned in protest, semi-upset that he had to do extra steps whilst Katie just got to apply the product to her hair.
She spent her time running around the apartment showing Multi, Quackity and Yoko the strands of hair she was allowed to dye pink. They had yet to wash the dye out yet, needing to leave it in for another half-hour or so.
“Can we dye my hair now?” Ash pouted as he watched Katie run around.
“Ten more minutes then we can.”
…
“What about now?” Don let out a huff and tickled at Ash’s sides, watching him squirm and giggle aloud, distracting him from the waiting time.
He made up games to keep Ash entertained, keeping him distracted allowing the time to pass much quicker without the constant check-ins he wanted.
The process went smoother than expected after the distraction, The bleach finally being able to be washed out and dark purple dye applied.
Eventually they washed the bleach out, finally applying the dye to his hair. Ash buzzed in excitement as the dye finally started working – now they just had to wait the hour for it to properly work.
Katie had calmed down, sitting on the couch for the final few minutes watching a show Quackity put on. Ash ran out and joined her to wait as well.
Dyeing their hair was a good distraction; but not a permanent one. He watched his two siblings from the bathroom still. Watched as they watched the show and whispered to each other.
He’d have to find a new job, a way to get an ID. Quackity said he could help with getting the ID, something about being held up with the wrong people in his past.
Acquiring a job was on him though, he doesn’t think many places would hire him due to his lack of ability to read English.
A worry for tomorrow.
The dye worked perfectly on the two, Katie ecstatic at the sight of her now pink strands and Ash enjoying the look of the purple in his dark hair.
It kept them happy, which made Don happy.
At some point Multi coloured the ends of his dreads green, most likely in the private bathroom in his and Quackity’s room.
They all sat together in the living room, the three teens on the couch with the kids sitting on cushions on the floor – by choice. They were eating fast food they ordered, all deciding they were too lazy to cook that night.
It was… calm.
Calmer than it had been in the recent days where he fought with Alex every night over dinner. They made peace with each other after Don confirmed with Quackity that he would not fight anymore under Katie’s wishes.
“Do you know if any places are hiring? I want to start looking.” Don grimaced at the burning sensation in his mouth after taking a bite of still-hot food.
“I think there’s a new place opening up across Queens boulevard, I saw it on the way back from work.” Mutli itched at the side of his nose, not looking away from the screen where a movie was playing.
Don let out a hum and leaned back, putting his food to the side to rest and cool down.
“Maybe I’ll check it out soon, I should at least make up a form of resume to up my chances.” He sniffed resting his hand atop Ash’s head.
“I’ll help you out, you can use some of my info for certain parts – like the phone number... etcetera.” Quackity raised his arms high in a stretch, back cracking as he yawned.
“Thanks.”
“No problem, man.”
The night continued on, peaceful with quiet chatter between the family. Schlatt had yelled through the wall earlier telling them to quiet down after a particular loud fit of laughter.
They continued, just quieter.
A good night. A night with no fights, no pressure, no tension.
Void of most negative things, except Don’s own mind.