Chapter Text
Stepping through the temporary doorway back to Earth, Duck Newton realized he was going to be alone now. Ned was gone, and until someone found a way to link Sylvain and Earth again, Aubrey and Thacker would be gone, too. Sure, it wasn't permanent, but he'd feel the loss of their presence all the same. Mama would be around, and some of the other Amnesty Lodge folks, but he'd be missing what had become a second family over the last however many months fighting Abominations and saving worlds. His feet touched the floor of Billy's old bedroom above the Cryptonomica and he sighed. His "destiny" was largely over and done with, now. Sure, there'd be some rebuilding to do in Kepler, and a life to live, but what was he supposed to do with it now? He'd spent most of his life shunning being a "Chosen One", then been thrust into the responsibility anyway, and he'd lived. They'd done it, the worlds were saved, and now they had to just… keep living. He shoved his hands in his pockets and started his walk home.
"Wayne Newton," a voice that was ingrained in his bones boomed out behind him as footfalls followed him. He smiled automatically as he turned to face Minerva, who was walking out of the portal toward him. "I have also chosen to stay on Earth over Sylvain. Looks like I am going to need a place to stay."
Duck chuckled and warmth bloomed in his chest when she used his real name. There was no getting away from that now, and he had the feeling that others in town would start catching on, with how loudly she tended to speak. She was probably still the only one he'd let get away with it long term, though. "Well, Minerva, you're basically already staying with me, might as well not change it until we can get you settled somewhere that feels more like a home for you, now that you're staying on this planet for the foreseeable future."
"This is true, Wayne Newton! Let us go home, then." She laughed, patting him on the back.
He jolted a few steps forward at the force and they walked downstairs through the currently empty Cryptonomica and through the town. It was quiet, the aftermath of the battles strewn across the streets. Some people were out and cleaning up debris, but for the most part it seemed people had retreated to their homes.
They reached Duck's apartment quickly and quietly, and he opened the door for her out of ingrained habit. It seemed surreal that they were here, and that the apartment looked the same as they'd left it. Notes were scattered on the coffee table where they'd left them, coffee mugs cold on the counter, a light left on in the hallway. Everything looked normal, like the world hadn't nearly ended hours before. He stood in the doorway and watched Minerva for a moment as she moved automatically to tidy up papers they no longer needed.
He shook his head and smiled fondly. "Hey, uh, Minerva, do you want a snack or something?" It struck him as odd that having her here, being fine, even happy, with that after avoiding her for so long wasn't weird. It felt normal. It felt good. He wasn't going to be alone after all this after all.
She looked up, tapping a stack of papers on the table, "That sounds very good. I am quite hungry after the harrowing battle, a snack would be wonderful!"
Duck nodded and scratched the back of his neck, "Peanut butter sandwiches sound good?"